Transfer Red Flag: The £40m striker Man Utd must avoid at all costs
Manchester United have been handed a tempting opportunity to move for a Premier League striker, but it is one that comes with serious risk.
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the deal could soon gather significant momentum.
Palace are edging closer to completing a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a development that could trigger a domino effect.
His arrival would likely clear the path for Mateta to depart Selhurst Park.
The Eagles are open to sanctioning his exit, but only if their demanding £40 million valuation is met.
Man United should avoid this expensive mistake
Mateta initially joined Palace on loan in January 2021 before the move was made permanent.
His early years in South London were far from convincing, but his form has improved significantly over the past two-and-a-half seasons.
He currently has 10 goals in 34 appearances this season, with eight of those strikes coming in the Premier League.
While Mateta is eager for a fresh challenge, United would be wise to think twice before making a move.
He is a solid centre-forward, but there are serious doubts over whether he is good enough to lead the line for a club of Manchester United’s stature.
He will turn 29 before the start of next season, a factor that would severely limit his resale value.
United have already paid a heavy price in recent years by investing in ageing players that they later struggled to move on.
INEOS must ask a simple but telling question: Are Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool fighting to sign him? The honest answer is no.
Rather than committing £40m to a striker approaching his 30s, United should invest smarter.
That money would be better spent on a younger forward with elite potential (they already have Benjamin Sesko) or a genuinely world-class striker capable of elevating United back into league title contention.
Stats from Fotmob.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .