Manchester United will face competition from Atletico Madrid in their pursuit of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Manchester United will have to battle it out with Atletico Madrid to secure the services of Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Red Devils want to add more quality to their attack, and they are interested in the Crystal Palace star. Meanwhile, the Spanish giants are on the lookout for an ideal long-term replacement for Antoine Griezmann, and Mateta is quite high on their wishlist.
The 27-year-old striker joined the Eagles at the start of 2021. While it was an initial loan deal, the move became permanent in 2022. Mateta has only gone from strength to strength since making the move to the Premier League.
Jean-Philippe Mateta enjoyed an impressive campaign last season as he bagged a total of 24 goal contributions with 21 of those coming in the English top flight. The French international has carried that form into the new campaign, and he already has 15 goal contributions to his name.
Mateta, who played a big part in France’s exceptional run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has placed himself on the wishlist of some top clubs with his consistent performances. While Crystal Palace have no intentions of parting ways with him, they might not have too many options to play with as his current deal runs out in 2026.
European giants to battle for Mateta
If the Eagles fail to tie Jean-Philippe Mateta down to a new deal in the next months, the upcoming summer transfer window might be the last opportunity for them to secure a big fee for his signature. Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are two clubs who are aware of his situation and could look to make the most out of it.
The Red Devils are not impressed with the performances of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund. Apart from the duo, the long-term future of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho is not certain. As a result, Manchester United will be in the market for new forwards next summer and Mateta is quite high on their list wishlist.
However, they will face significant competition from Atletico Madrid, who have shortlisted the 27-year-old as an option to reinforce their attack ahead of next season. Since Antoine Griezmann is 33, Diego Simeone’s team are looking for a long-term replacement, and Mateta is seen as an ideal fit for their system. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will hope the competition for his services ends up helping them drive up his price.
