Manchester United have identified Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as a priority target to replace Joshua Zirkzee this summer, according to reports.
The club are preparing to significantly strengthen their squad ahead of a return to Champions League football next season.
United played just 40 games last season without European competition, but that workload is expected to rise sharply under manager Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils could feature in more than 60 matches across all competitions next campaign, making additional attacking depth a necessity.
Benjamin Sesko is currently the club’s first-choice striker, but the squad is considered short of a genuine and capable competitor for that position.
Zirkzee has failed to live up to expectations since his move from Bologna two years ago, and the club are reportedly planning to move him on this summer.
Mateta is among the top names on United’s wishlist, despite Crystal Palace qualifying for the Europa League after lifting the Conference League title against Rayo Vallecano.
The Frenchman scored 16 goals across all competitions during the 2025/26 season, an impressive return given that he also suffered a lengthy knee injury during the campaign.
Mateta has netted 48 Premier League goals over the last three seasons under Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, establishing himself as one of the division’s standout strikers.
He was close to joining AC Milan earlier in the year, but a knee injury caused that £30 million transfer to collapse before it could be completed.
With one year remaining on his Palace contract, United are believed to be optimistic about securing a deal for less than the £30 million figure previously agreed with the Rossoneri.
A fee of around £25 million has been suggested as a realistic figure, with the club potentially recouping similar funds from the sale of Zirkzee, who has been linked with a return to Serie A.