Manchester United have reportedly identified another Premier League striker as a potential transfer target should they fail to win the race for Ipswich Town‘s Liam Delap.
The Red Devils are expected to prioritise the addition of at least one new centre-forward this summer, as both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to reach the heights expected since moving to Old Trafford.
Head coach Ruben Amorim recently admitted that a lack of goals is his team’s “biggest problem”, with only four other Premier League teams having scored fewer goals than the Red Devils (39) after 34 matches this season.
Man United have been credited with a strong interest in former Manchester City striker Delap, who is available for £30m this summer as a release clause in his contract has become active following confirmation of Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League.
The Red Devils are expected to face stern competition for Delap’s signature, though, and GiveMeSport claims that they are not currently aware of where they stand in the race to sign the highly-rated 22-year-old.
Man Utd identify Mateta as Delap alternative as they also push to sign Cunha
The report adds that uncertainty surrounding Man United’s pursuit of Delap is one of the reasons why the club are moving fast to secure the services of Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, who is capable of operating as a centre-forward.
Amorim would prefer to use Cunha – who has a £62.5m release clause – as an attacking midfielder, though, and the Red Devils has subsequently identified another English top-flight striker as a potential alternative to Delap.
The man on United’s radar is said to be Crystal Palace‘s Jean-Philippe Mateta who is believed to be keen on making the move to Old Trafford this summer.
In December last year, Palace triggered a one-year option in Mateta’s contract to extend his stay at the club until June 2027, but Oliver Glasner‘s side are now looking to reward the striker with fresh terms in a bid to fend off interest in his services.
However, if the Eagles are unable to tie their star striker down to a new long-term deal, then they will allegedly have to become open-minded about a potential sale this summer.
Mateta facing uncertain future at Crystal Palace?
Mateta has been a standout performer for Crystal Palace since joining the club in January 2021, scoring 46 goals in 147 appearances, and he was named the club’s Player of the Season in 2023-24.
After enduring a slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, Mateta has scored 10 goals in 14 Premier League games since the turn of the year, and has also recovered from receiving 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear in that time.
The 27-year-old Frenchman, who has also been linked with the likes of Lyon, Chelsea and Barcelona in recent months, could be available for a fee in the region of £40m this summer.
Mateta is currently focused on finishing the season strongly with the Eagles, who sit 12th in the Premier League table and will soon prepare for their third-ever FA Cup final appearance against Man City on May 17.
Man United’s interest in Mateta comes at a time when they have also been tipped to move for Victor Osimhen, with a recent report claiming that they are willing to activate the release clause in his Napoli contract.
