Jean-Phillipe Mateta: Man United battling two Euro giants for Crystal Palace star

Open menu

OneFootball's home page

Settings

The Peoples Person

17 July 2026

Manchester United remain interested in Jean-Philippe Mateta but face fierce competition from two European giants to secure the Crystal Palace striker’s signature, according to a new report.

While

Manchester United

are understood to be happy with

Benjamin Sesko’s

maiden campaign in England, the club’s hierarchy have run out of patience with

Joshua Zirkzee

Despite the 24-year-old

Dutchman

being a popular member of the squad, with a skillset and profile that

should

make him an effective foil to Sesko, he has been anything but effective since his £36.5 million capture from Bologna in 2024.

Across 75 appearances in a red shirt, Zirkzee has scored nine times. If this lack of goals was balanced by outstanding creativity – the type he was famed for in Serie A – the argument would be different, but he has provided just four assists.

INEOS are intent on signing a more experienced No.9 this summer to ease the goal-scoring burden on Sesko. The plan is to sell Zirkzee to fund this, though the 2020 Champions League winner with Bayern Munich wants to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place.

However, if this changes after discussions with Michael Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox, there will be a

long line of suitors interested in Zirkzee

, mainly in Italy. And United seem ready to zero in on a readymade replacement with Mateta, Crystal Palace and France’s frontman, though they are not his only admirer.

Having just turned 29, with a proven track record of goals in the Premier League, Mateta fits the bill for what the Red Devils are looking for this summer. The Sevran native, who was included in Didier Deschamps’ squad for the World Cup ahead of talents like Eli Kroupi Junior and Randal Kolo-Muani, has become a cult hero at Selhurst Park, propelling the Eagles to success in the FA Cup and Europa League in the last two years.

Possessing a powerful 6’4″ frame, Mateta is the prototypical No.9 for English football. He makes life difficult for every defender he tussles with, offering underrated link-up play and confident finishing off either foot.

Twelve goals last season, with 14 the year before and 16 prior to that, demonstrate his clinical touch. He has averaged roughly one goal every three games with Palace, despite the south London team being largely defensive under Oliver Glasner.

Crucially, the former Olympique Lyon man would be content playing a supportive role at Old Trafford. He would accept being Sesko’s back-up in a way more high-profile names would not.

Transfer expert Rudy Galetti confirms United are “interested” in Mateta, with Palace valuing their talismanic forward at £25 million, given his current deal expires next summer.

Talks are ongoing over an extension

, but no breakthrough has yet been found.

–

Thursday, 16 July 2026

Tweet:

“EXCL | Atlético Madrid, Juventus and

are all interested in Jean-Philippe Mateta. Crystal Palace value the striker at £25m and are open to selling, with his contract expiring in 2027. Talks are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.”

Galetti claims Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also in the race. Talks with all three clubs are “expected to intensify in the coming weeks”, setting up a potential bidding war.

Mateta is a

long-term target for Manchester United

, though Crystal Palace’s prohibitive asking price has likely deterred INEOS up until this point. But with the Frenchman’s contract forcing the Eagles’ hand, a £25 million outlay for a striker as experienced as he is imposing could be an astute piece of business in M16.

Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading

Man United

news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky:

@peoplesperson.bsky.social

Frustration over Kobbie Mainoo's unclear role in England's World Cup squad

caughtoffside

Manu Kone: Man United expected to make offer for Roma star

Marcus Rashford ‘to rejoin’ Man United pre-season as Fenerbahçe links dismissed

OffsAIde

Football365

Ex-Leeds United teammate ‘could join’ Karl Darlow at Manchester United in £30m deal

Predicting which clubs the summer's biggest free agents will sign for

There are still some massive names who are set to become free agents in the summer, with some high-profile deals due to expire at the end of next month.As speculation...

Tottenham: Why James Maddison was not awarded a penalty against Leeds as Premier League issue statement

Spurs midfielder denied a big moment on his return from injuryThe Premier League has explained why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty in their draw against Leeds.As the clock ticked...

Bento's howler delays CR7's first title in Saudi Arabia 😱

An ugly mistake by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento prevented Al-Nassr from winning the Saudi League title this Tuesday.Cristiano Ronaldo’s team was leading 1-0 until the 53rd minute of the second half,...