Manchester United have been handed a golden chance to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in a bargain summer deal following a January transfer window U-turn, according to the Mirror.
The France international and long-term Man United target has decided he wants to leave Selhurst Park - like manager Oliver Glasner - by the end of this season at the latest.
The 28-year-old had looked to be closing in on a move to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in the dying days of the January transfer window, before AC Milan came calling.
A move to the San Siro then appeared set to happen when the Serie A giants agreed a deal with Palace, but an issue that arose during a medical meant the transfer was called off and that he will remain at Selhurst Park until the summer.
United Given Mateta Opportunity
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick vs Bournemouth
According to the Mirror, the Frenchman has been a long-term target for United, and now they could land him for a reduced fee in just a few months' time.
With 18 months of his contract remaining, AC had agreed a deal worth £30m with Palace to take him to Italy.
You'd imagine that in another six months' time - and for a player that has made it clear he wants out - that fee could be significantly lower in the summer transfer window.
United have shown in recent windows they are beginning to favour outfield players with Premier League experience after the additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while the central midfielders they are being linked to the most ahead of the summer are also Premier League based.
The problem with that recruitment strategy is that it comes at a price, with Brighton and Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Palace's Adam Wharton all being valued at around the £100m mark.
If United do have to shell that sort of fee out for one - or two - midfielders, they will want to save money when strengthening other areas of the pitch, and Mateta would fit the bill.
Next United Manager Faces Striker Dilemma
benjamin sesko
With Rasmus Hojlund set to join Napoli on a permanent deal and Joshua Zirkzee continuing to find himself out of favour, Michael Carrick's long-term replacement at Old Trafford has a decision to make.
Should both of those complete exits this summer, the new United boss would be left with Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, who has been preferred ahead of the Slovenian international under Carrick.
United will surely want another option though, and there won't be many better options - with Premier League experience - on the market than Mateta.
The 28-year-old has 46 goals in 153 English top flight outings for Palace, and has previously been described as 'one of the best strikers in Europe' by The Analyst.
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