The Premier League season may have finished over a week ago, but it’s been a busy seven days for Manchester United.
The Red Devils embarrassed themselves on their post-season Asia tour, but did at least leave with a win.
Since then, they have confirmed their first arrival of the summer in an attempt to appease the fans after a ridiculous season for all the wrong reasons.
Matheus Cunha has decided he wants a piece of the craziness unfolding at Old Trafford, leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers behind in a £62.5m deal.
The Brazilian was exceptional for Wolves in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and also supplying five assists.
So, what’s next on the agenda?
Man United targeting another Premier League forward
As Ruben Amorim and Co desperately try to distract themselves from the lingering threat of Bruno Fernandes leaving England behind, wanted in Saudi Arabia, United are trying to strengthen their attacking ranks.
Cunha has already arrived but they did have Liam Delap in their crosshairs too before he reportedly agreed a move to Chelsea. Bryan Mbeumo is another Premier League star in line for a possible move to United.
Yet, their shortlist of players at English clubs doesn’t stop there according to TEAMtalk, who shared the latest on the club’s transfer plans on Monday morning.
They have reported that Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is now at the top of their list to reinforce the centre-forward position.
It’s alleged that the Eagles could be willing to sell the Frenchman for a bargain fee of just £29m with the player’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2027.
As a result, United are now expecting to make a ‘concrete move’ for Mateta in the coming days as Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to beat competition from Serie A clubs, Juventus and AC Milan.
How Mateta could emulate Berbatov at Man United
Cast your mind back to the days of the Sir Alex Ferguson era and there was a certain aura about their transfer business.
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They’d look to the best talents in the top-flight to bolster their squad and they often had great success in doing so.
Think Wayne Rooney, think Rio Ferdinand, think Robin van Persie. Rooney and Rio quickly became modern-day greats after trading Everton and Leeds United for more luxurious pastures under Sir Alex.
Van Persie’s time at United was rather more short-lived but he was still the primary reason for their league title in 2012/13, the last time they won the league.
Another key component of previous title wins was Dimitar Berbatov who signed from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £30m back in 2008.
2006/07 (Spurs)
33
12
9
2007/08 (Spurs)
36
15
11
2008/09 (Man Utd)
31
9
11
2009/10 (Man Utd)
33
12
6
2010/11 (Man Utd)
32
20
4
2011/12 (Man Utd)
12
7
0
2012/13 (Fulham)
33
15
3
2013/14 (Fulham)
18
4
1
Already, this is a deal that begins to echo a possible swoop for Mateta. Not only could he potentially arrive for a similar fee, but he’d also be signing from another Premier League club.
In the campaign prior to moving up north, Berbatov was on fire for Spurs, scoring 15 league goals in 36 games and netting 23 in all competitions.
Mateta, funnily enough, found the net at a similarly frequent rate for Oliver Glasner’s side this season, bagging 14 times in 37 matches. He also scored 16 in 35 throughout 2023/24.
Hailed as “one of the best centre forwards in the league over the last two seasons” by the aforementioned Rooney, there’s more than just their goal rate and possible transfer fee that makes this move so similar.
Indeed, while the Palace star is most definitely more direct, pacey and physical in his approach, they do share some similar traits.
Berbatov was known for being a laid-back striker, someone who didn’t really look too bothered. However, he had a touch of class about him. His first touch was immense, coasting through games and coming alive in the key moments.
Mateta certainly has a similar play style in that regard. Off the ball, Mateta might look slightly more cumbersome but when he gets the ball, it all changes.
Thierry Henry, who managed the 27-year-old at the Olympics, outlined that best. Speaking at the Paris games last summer, he said: “He’s an old-fashioned striker, you can play a little more direct. He can keep the ball. He’s a boring striker to play against, he doesn’t lose the ball much, and he goes at the last defender. He uses his physicality, he’s good with his head, and he scores.”
United’s former Bulgarian was certainly cut from a similar cloth. He could hold the ball up exceptionally well and was incredibly difficult to dispossess. He was old-fashioned too.
So, while Mateta would provide more pace and energy than Berbatov ever did at United, their shared deceptive intelligence, clever movement and classy nature are all very similar. You can just imagine the former United forward scoring the goal below, firing home without a care in the world.
He’d be a certain upgrade on the floundering Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane only netted ten goals in 52 matches this season. They cannot rely on that again next term.
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