Paul Merson thinks Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta would be perfect for Man United. But he’s simply ‘not fashionable’ for the Red Devils.
After Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 2-1 last weekend, the Eagles now find themselves sitting in 3rd place of the Premier League table compared to Man United way down in 14th.
Ruben Amorim’s side remain in desperate times and it may be that the Portuguese boss is on borrowed time, compared to Oliver Glasner who can do no wrong at the moment.
Palace’s transfer business continues to impress. But what Glasner has done that has earned praise is get the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta firing.
The Frenchman scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season and 16 in the season before, with two in six games so far this season.
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Paul Merson makes Jean-Philippe Mateta to Man United claim
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football, pundit Paul Merson was talking about Man United’s demise and how he said last January that United need a striker like Mateta, even going as far as saying Mateta is a ‘much better player’ than United’s big summer signing Benjamin Sesko.
United legend Paul Scholes agreed as Merson said: “I said transfer deadline last January, Man United needed a Matete at Palace. Big, strong, leads the line, he’s a threat, causes problems. But they’re not going to buy him because he’s ‘Crystal Palace’, he don’t fit the bill. He’s not fashionable. He’s much better player than Sesko and he’s doing it in the Premier League.”
Sesko cost Man United an initial £66million and he’s got one goal in six Premier League games so far this season. Crystal Palace meanwhile paid a reported £9.6million to sign Mateta permanently in 2022.
Man United legend Wayne Rooney hails Crystal Palace striker
Mateta certainly had his critics in the past. But he’s well and truly silenced those with his form in the last two years and he’s showing the form of someone who could seal a big money move one day in the future.
Merson thinks he’s ideal for Man United and their legendary former striker Wayne Rooney is a big fan of Mateta at Crystal Palace too.
Speaking recently, Rooney said of the 28-year-old: “I like Mateta. I just think he’s clumsy, he doesn’t look great on the eye, but he occupies defenders, he makes it a difficult game for defenders to try to deal with him. That allows other players to come into the spaces, so I like him.”
Earning such praise from such a striker shows just how much Mateta has progressed in the last few years, and how highly he’s now regarded in Premier League circles.
Crystal Palace return to action against Dynamo Kyiv in the Conference League on Thursday.