Red Alert: Why Man United must change transfer plans to sign wantaway 56-goal PL striker

Manchester United may have been handed a golden chance to secure a proven Premier League striker at exactly the right moment.

Reports over the past 24 hours suggest Jean-Philippe Mateta has formally informed Crystal Palace of his desire to leave before the winter transfer window slams shut.

Since arriving from FSV Mainz in January 2021, Mateta has quietly evolved into one of Palace’s most reliable attacking figures.

The 28-year-old has amassed an impressive 185 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 56 goals and supplying 13 assists along the way.

His influence has only grown stronger over the past two-and-a-half seasons, where he has consistently delivered at the highest level.

Mateta struck 30 Premier League goals across the previous two campaigns and has already added eight more in the 2025-26 season.

Beyond the league, the powerful forward played a decisive role in Palace’s historic FA Cup triumph and their Community Shield success.

The Eagles are in a challenging situation having already sanctioned the sale of their club captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City.

Manager Oliver Glasner has also revealed that he would head the exit door in the summer.

Golden opportunity for Man United

The Red Devils invested in their attack last summer by signing Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Mbeumo and Cunha have already underlined how valuable Premier League experience can be when adapting to the demands of Old Trafford.

Sesko has also enjoyed a steady start with four goals and one assist to his name.

The 22-year-old will be targeting double figures by the time the season concludes.

Still, placing the entire attacking burden on a developing striker would be an unfair expectation.

United urgently need a centre-forward who understands how to thrive in the relentless intensity of English football.

Mateta and Sesko could share the goal burden up front next season, particularly if United qualify for European competition next season.

Ideally, the Red Devils would prefer to prioritise midfield reinforcements.

However, opportunities of this calibre rarely present themselves mid-season.

With Mateta pushing for an exit, United could address a long-term attacking need within the next ten days rather than waiting until summer.

Stats from Fotmob.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .