Man Utd should now sign £40m striker to replace Zirkzee, he's an upgrade for Amorim

Manchester United should sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as a replacement for Joshua Zirkzee during the ongoing transfer window.

Zirkzee is pushing for a winter move to Serie A with Roma. It is anticipated that the Red Devils will give the green light soon. A forward signing is expected with his departure.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was a top target for the club recently, but the Ghanaian star has made the choice to join arch-rivals Manchester City.

United need to pursue an alternative target. We believe the hierarchy should approve Zirkzee’s exit and quickly sign Mateta, who would be an upgrade.

The 28-year-old has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent strikers. Manager Oliver Glasner has got the best out of him in a 3-4-2-1 set-up.

The Frenchman has netted 16 and 14 goals respectively during his last two league campaigns, and has notched up seven goals from 17 outings this season.

He is a proven Premier League star with vast experience playing in a 3-4-2-1 system, which has been manager Ruben Amorim’s preferred formation at United.

Mateta offers a strong aerial and physical presence upfront. He has impressed with his hold-up play and ability to link up with teammates to initiate counter-attacks.

The former Mainz man has won an average of two aerial duels per game and has the knack of getting into goal-scoring positions with his clever movement in and around the box.

He has a shot-to-goal conversion rate of 15 percent, twice as much as Sesko, and would provide strong competition for places to the Slovenian upfront for the Red Devils.

Mateta was valued at around £40 million in March last year. His current contract expires in the summer of 2027, and Palace have been unable to persuade him to extend so far.

The south London outfit could be tempted to sanction his sale in January rather than waiting until next summe, when they could lose him on a cut-price deal of £20-25m.

The FA Cup holders are already facing a worse situation with captain Marc Guehi. He could walk out on a free transfer when his existing deal concludes in June 2026.

In our view, United should test Palace’s resolve in the current transfer window. A package of around £30m including add-ons, could be sufficient to prise Mateta away.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .