Manchester United’s attacking line has certainly struggled a bit in front of goal this season. Following the summer departure of Rasmus Høylund, the Red Devils only have two regular No.9s at the club, but they certainly seem to be feeling the effects of their lack of depth.
Perhaps unfairly, manager Ruben Amorim has given Joshua Zirkzee limited minutes this season, with the silky Dutchman only conceding two goals in 11 Premier League appearances.
This is the same number of goals as Benjamin Sesco, who joined from RB Leipzig this summer and is currently without a goal in eight games.
It may therefore come as no surprise that United are rumored to have a new striker this winter.
Manchester United target Premier League striker
It looks like Zirkzee’s time at Old Trafford could come to an end in the coming weeks.
There are strong rumors of a return to Serie A after another disappointing season at Old Trafford, with Roma considered the likely destination for United’s number 11.
Well, their replacements may soon emerge from among the top players. According to a report by journalist Pete O’Rourke, the 13-time Premier League winner is “considering” a deal with Crystal Palace and French international Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The situation surrounding the three-cap French star at the moment is interesting. O’Rourke says his contract expires at the end of the 2026/27 season, but he is “in limbo over a new contract”.
This could give United the chance to move and sign him on the cheap, with Palace reportedly valuing him at £26m over the summer.
Sky Sports backed up that claim, revealing on Thursday that the Eagles forward is indeed a player they have “long-term interest” in.
Why Mateta will improve United
Over the past two-and-a-half seasons, the 28-year-old has developed a reputation as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League”, according to Como scout Ben Mattinson. The Frenchman has been an important and consistent source of goals for the Eagles.
The striker, who was born on the outskirts of Paris, has made 148 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 45 goals and providing nine assists. His best scoring seasons were 2023/24, when he scored 16 goals in the league, and 2024/25, when he scored 14 goals in the top flight.
He has already scored seven times in 19 league appearances this season and is on track to score the same number of goals again, showing great consistency.
Amorim would certainly like a player with that level of experience in his squad. Old Trafford’s strikers are certainly struggling, with Sesco one of the players yet to find his best form.
It may only be a matter of time, but United fans are yet to see the form the Slovenian had at RB Leipzig.
In two seasons in the Bundesliga, he had scored 13 and 14 goals before making his big move, so his two goals in red might be considered underwhelming.
This season’s basic statistics suggest that Palace’s striker will be an upgrade on Sesco. For example, Mateta has a conversion rate of 16.28%, while the Red Devils’ new striker has a conversion rate of just 8.33%.
Comparison of Mateta and Sesco 25/26 PL stats | ||
|---|---|---|
State (per 90) | mathematics | Sesco |
shot accuracy | 53.49% | 50% |
conversion rate | 16.28% | 8.33% |
shot on target | 1.5 | 1.3 |
the goal | 0.5 | 0.3 |
foul win | 0.7 | 0.3 |
Squawka statistics | ||
Having a striker of Mateta’s quality and experience in the team will definitely be a plus for United’s number 30. Not only will he be able to learn from more experienced players, but he will also be able to take some of the pressure off of being United’s main No.9.
This is certainly a sure-fire deal on Amorim’s side. That’s an impressive fee for a proven Premier League striker, a plug-and-play attacker who can be slotted into the same system he plays for Palace to strengthen his squad.
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