Manchester United have produced a number of iconic centre-forwards over the years, and their fan base is blessed with a wealth of elite-level talent at Old Trafford.
Players like Wayne Rooney were often in the spotlight during his time with the Red Devils, and the Englishman undoubtedly left an indelible impression on the club’s history.
He scored a total of 253 goals for the club and then sat at the top of the scoring charts, breaking the record set by the great Sir Bobby Charlton.
Rooney partnered a number of legendary players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie, before helping Sir Alex Ferguson win 13 Premier League titles.
However, no manager has achieved such a feat since then, and manager Ruben Amorim is hoping to add another talisman to his ranks to help him win titles in the near future.
Manchester United to look for new striker in January
United have been heavily touted in recent weeks as potentially signing Selhawe Guirassy from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on a winter deal.
The Guinea international has been in the spotlight for his goalscoring exploits in recent years, going on to score 45 goals in just 65 appearances for the German club.
However, any deal is likely to be expensive, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £70m to part ways with the 29-year-old frontman.
He is not the only player currently on the shortlist, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta also a talisman that executives are eyeing for the near future.
According to Spanish media, Red Devils leaders are considering a move for the Frenchman and could make an offer to the Eagles in January.
The paper also claims that the player is believed to be unhappy with the lack of progress in contract negotiations with Selhurst Park, which could lead to a £40m move in the coming months.
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The idea of talking about a new striker in December would have come as a shock to many involved with United, especially after signing Benjamin Sesco in the summer.
Amorim and the board have invested a total of £74 million, including an additional sum for the Slovenian international who scored 21 goals in all competitions for RB Leipzig last season.
Such a deal caused a lot of excitement and gave supporters hope that they had found a new number nine, but as it turns out, the move has been slow to pan out in recent months.
The 22-year-old has only found the back of the net twice for the Red Devils, with central midfielder Casemiro scoring earlier and his struggles in the Premier League subsequently highlighted.
Obviously, it will take time for Sesco to get used to life in England, but the early signs don’t look promising, especially considering the compensation he was paid for his services.
His poor form has fueled speculation about Mateta’s signing, with the Frenchman no doubt providing Amorim with the Premier League proven star he needs.
He scored a total of 14 goals in 37 league games in 2024/25, and his impressive goalscoring feats have continued this season, with Paul Merson rating him as “much better” than Sesco.
“But he’s a much better player than Sesco, he’s much better. And he’s doing it every week in the Premier League. As a player, you’ll love Mateta in your team.”
Comparing his stats to Sesco’s, he manages to outperform him in key areas and his potential move would definitely be a great pickup for United.
Described by Ben Mattinson as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League”, Mateta has scored three times as many goals as Sesco, while also achieving greater accuracy on target.
Comparison of Mateta and Sesco in PL (2025/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | mathematics | Sesco |
games played | 11 | 11 |
goals and assists | 6 | 3 |
Accuracy of shots on target | 50% | 38% |
Successful take-up | 55% | 20% |
advance to the final third | 0.8 | 0.4 |
aerial won | 51% | 48% |
Number of shots on target per 90 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
Pass accuracy | 65% | 63% |
Statistics by FBref | ||
Figures like this show his clinical nature within the final third, often allowing him to take better advantage of chances that fall in front of goal.
He has also completed more take-ons in the Premier League, while also completing more carries into the final third per 90, which certainly makes him a more all-round threat.
Mateta dominated in the air and went on to win every game he played, making him the perfect target man in Amorim’s current system at Old Trafford.
In today’s market, £40m would be an absolute hefty sum for a striker who has been an incredible goal scorer at the top level over the years.
As for Sesco, he desperately needs to find his form in the Premier League to avoid losing his place in the squad at the expense of Mateta for January and beyond.
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