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Manchester United‘to make a move’for top class Premier League striker after£15m price drop

Manchester United to make ‘concrete move’ for striker at the top of their shortlist as his cut-price fee has been revealed, causing European heavyweights to circulate.

It has been no secret that Manchester United have suffered tremendously in front of goal recently, with their lack of goal threat sticking out like a sore thumb in their disastrous 2024/25 campaign.

United finished the Premier League season in a dismal 15th, scoring 44 goals in the process. Only seven of these goals were scored by their traditional strikers, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring three and Rasmus Hojlund scoring four.

After completing the signature of Matheus Cunha for £62.5m, it has left Ruben Amorim’s side prioritising a new striker to play alongside their brilliant Brazilian.

As the season was in full swing, names such as Viktor Gyokeres, Liam Delap, and Victor Osimhen were being rumoured with a move to United. However, with no European football on the cards, other avenues may have to be pursued instead, such as Jean-Philippe Mateta.

United to make move for Mateta

Back-to-back successful campaigns for Crystal Palace have left Mateta on the radar of many clubs around Europe, with United reportedly seeking the Frenchman’s signature.

A report from TEAMtalk has claimed that United have Mateta at the top of their shortlist as Palace are willing to sell for a bargain fee, but two European heavyweights, Juventus and AC Milan, are also in the race.

Their sources state that, ‘United are expected to make a concrete move in the coming days to explore the conditions of a potential deal’, for a fee in the region of £25 million to £29.5 million, which is a £10-15 million price drop from the previously quoted £40 million demand.

The 27-year-old’s contract expires in 2027, after the Eagles exercised the option to extend his current deal for an additional year.

Could Mateta be Amorim’s man?

With Cunha already through the door, and rumours hotting up for Bryan Mbeumo, United could start the 2025/26 campaign with a brand new front three, all with fantastic Premier League resumes.

Mateta stands at a staggering 6ft 4in, making him an ideal focal point for any attack, which he proved in the FA Cup final when his hold-up play created the opportunity for Ebere Eze’s clinical winner.

READ MORE:Fabrizio Romano reveals Manchester United will find out next transfer decision “in few days” after Matheus Cunha confirmation

30 goals in the last two league campaigns have unsurprisingly left many clubs interested in Palace’s frontman, with a fee of £25m having the potential to be a bargain.

Although they’ll have to fend off two of Italy’s juggernauts, United will hope that their lack of European football won’t be a hindrance to their pursuit of Mateta as they attempt to put last season’s attacking mishaps behind them.

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