Manchester United’s hopes of signing Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta have taken a major hit, with the striker reportedly prioritising a move to a club competing in the UEFA Champions League.
Mateta, a 27-year-old French-born player of Congolese descent, had emerged as one of United’s key targets ahead of a critical summer rebuild.
However, the absence of European football at Old Trafford next season appears to have diminished the club’s chances of securing his signature.
The Red Devils endured a disastrous 2024–25 campaign under Ruben Amorim, crashing out of the Europa League with a narrow loss to Tottenham in the final and slumping to a 16th-place finish in the Premier League.
The lack of continental football has already impacted their recruitment plans, with former priority target Liam Delap now set to join Chelsea.
Now, according to The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Mateta may also be out of reach.
“Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta remains appealing… but he also wants Champions League football,” Delaney wrote, highlighting United’s diminishing appeal to top-tier talent.
The situation compounds United’s transfer frustrations, as they seek to reinforce a squad in need of major surgery.
Delaney also noted that the club’s financial position in the market could be slightly eased should captain Bruno Fernandes accept a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal—though no agreement has yet been reached.
“In general, in the market, there’s a sense of lull before it opens with a burst,” Delaney added, pointing to a potentially volatile transfer window ahead.
