Manchester United are now reportedly eyeing a January move to sign an impressive Premier League striker who’s currently outscoring Benjamin Sesko.
Man Utd eyeing Premier League striker
Whilst much of Man United’s focus has been on welcoming a midfield reinforcement next month, amid links with the likes of Ruben Neves, they could also add another attacking start.
Without the influence of Bryan Mbeumo, who’s at AFCON, and the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Red Devils struggled to pick apart the worst side that the Premier League has to offer at Old Trafford.
It was an incredibly disappointing display from Ruben Amorim’s side, who handed Wolves just their third point of the campaign. It summed up their attacking struggles when Joshua Zirkzee was substituted for tactical reasons at the break, despite the fact that United were already short on options.
UCL club now prioritising January move to sign £120,000-a-week Man United ace
The Red Devils could cash in.
ByTom Cunningham
Amorim confirmed the decision, telling reporters: “We were running around trying to get hold of the ball. We were struggling with their midfielders, and sometimes you can attack better with less strikers. We played with three strikers, and sometimes that’s not the best thing to attack well.”
If the answer to Man United’s attacking problems is to take a striker away from the side then that is arguably a problem in its own right. There’s no denying that INEOS set the groundwork for offensive improvement by signing Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, but whilst they’ve impressed, Sesko has struggled.
The big-money forward could have suffered the same fate as Zirkzee, having struggled to make his mark against Wolves. The former RB Leipzig star is still just 22 years old and has the potential to become world-class, but he may not be the answer for right now.
Instead, that could be another Premier League star. According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Man United are now eyeing a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in the January transfer window.
"Amazing" Mateta would complete Man Utd's attack
With around 18 months until his current Crystal Palace deal comes to an end and a new contract currently unlikely, Man United could offer the Eagles an early chance to cash in on Mateta.
The Frenchman has enjoyed the most unexpected rise in the Premier League and is still outscoring Sesko in the current campaign, despite a recent dip in form.
PL stats 25/26
Mateta
Sesko
Minutes
1,464
864
Goals
7
2
Assists
0
1
Expected Goals
10.4
3.1
The one concern for United should be how Mateta has actually underperformed this season. Based on his XG, the French forward should have around 10 Premier League goals this season and not just the seven that he has netted.
Alas, he would still be an upgrade on the younger Sesko, who has underperformed by one goal himself in the Premier League.
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Whether Palace take their chance to cash in on Mateta is now the big question. Given the praise of Oliver Glasner, who called his striker “amazing” back in February, it seems unlikely that they’ll sell their star man midway through the campaign.