Manchester United have been urged to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe Mateta in the summer transfer window to solve the club’s goalscoring woes. Ruben Amorim’s toothless attack, managing just 34 goals in 28 games, has heavily contributed to what looks fated to be the worst-ever Premier League season at Old Trafford.
United splashed £36.5million to recruit Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna last summer, but the 23-year-old didn’t come with a reputation for scoring goals and has only notched six. More problematic has been the regression of Rasmus Hojlund, who inherited the No. 9 shirt from Anthony Martial after he was the club’s top scorer in his debut season, plundering 16 goals. The £72m striker has only netted seven times in 37 appearances this term, including just twice in 23 league outings.
It is, therefore, no surprise that a new striker is reportedly near the top of Amorim’s priorities ahead of his first summer transfer window in Manchester.
And former United winger Le Sharpe wants to see the Portuguese tactician target Mateta amid his goalscoring exploits at Selhurst Park.
“Jean Philippe Mateta would be a great buy for Manchester United. He’d give some respite to Rasmus Hojlund and would be someone to learn and play off him,” Sharpe told BetBrain.
“He’s physical, and he’s a nightmare for defenders to play against, so I definitely think he’d be a positive addition.
“Manchester United are at least three years away from even looking at the Premier League title.
“With the players Ruben Amorim has available and the style of football he wants to play, I think Jean Philippe Mateta would be an ideal signing.
“He’s someone that can hold the ball up, knows where the goal is and can bring other players into play.
“United are sat in the bottom third of the table; they need to work themselves up the table before they can start looking at strikers of that ilk.
“They need to make the club an appealing prospect for players around Europe in order to attract top talent to the club.”
Mateta has scored 15 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season, with only four strikers superior to his 12-goal Premier League tally.
Palace reportedly value the 27-year-old at around £40m, which could be an attractive price for a goalscorer in his prime years with years of experience in English football.
Amorim’s immediate focus is restoring some confidence in Hojlund, who has traits that should suit the ex-Sporting boss’ 3-4-3 system.
He hasn’t scored a single goal in 20 appearances, though, and is in desperate need of a more established option to ease some of the spotlight.