Manchester United has been the house to so many iconic centre-forwards over time, with the fanbase typically blessed by quite a few elite-level skills at Outdated Trafford.
Gamers like Wayne Rooney so typically caught the attention throughout their time as a Pink Satan, with the Englishman undoubtedly leaving a long-lasting impression on the membership’s historical past.
He registered a complete of 253 targets for the membership, subsequently sitting on the prime of their goalscoring charts and beating the file set by the nice Sir Bobby Charlton.
Rooney was partnered by quite a few legendary gamers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie, subsequently serving to Sir Alex Ferguson win 13 Premier League titles alongside the best way.
Nonetheless, no supervisor has been capable of obtain such a feat since, with Ruben Amorim eager to land one other talisman to his ranks to spice up any title success within the close to future.
Man Utd’s hunt for a brand new striker in January
Over the past couple of weeks, United have been strongly touted with a possible winter deal to land Serhou Guirassy from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund.
The Guinean worldwide has caught the attention of the final couple of years together with his goalscoring exploits, subsequently registering 45 targets in simply 65 appearances for the German membership.
Nonetheless, any deal would seemingly be an costly one, as his present employers are demanding a price within the area of £70m to half methods with the 29-year-old frontman.
He’s not the one identify at the moment on their shortlist, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta one other talisman the hierarchy have set their sights on for the close to future.
In line with one Spanish outlet, the Pink Devils’ hierarchy are contemplating a transfer to land the Frenchman and will current a suggestion to the Eagles in January.
The report additionally states that the participant is known to be pissed off over the shortage of contract talks at Selhurst Park, which may result in a £40m departure within the coming months.
Why United’s newest goal is an improve on Sesko
The considered speaking a couple of new striker in December would have been a shock to many related to United – particularly after their transfer to land Benjamin Sesko in the summertime.
Amorim and the board forked out a complete of £74m, together with add-ons on the Slovenian worldwide after he netted 21 targets throughout all competitions for RB Leipzig final marketing campaign.
Such a deal generated large pleasure and handed the supporters hope that they’d discovered their new quantity 9, however in the end, the transfer has struggled to carry off in latest months.
The 22-year-old has solely managed to search out the web twice for the Pink Devils, with central midfielder Casemiro scoring extra up to now – subsequently highlighting his struggles within the Premier League.
Clearly, Sesko will want time to settle into life in England, however the early indicators don’t seem like promising, particularly contemplating the price paid for his providers.
His lack of type has fuelled hypothesis over a deal for Mateta, with the Frenchman undoubtedly offering Amorim with the wanted Premier League-proven star he craves.
He netted a complete of 14 targets in his 37 league outings all through 2024/25, however he’s continued his outstanding goalscoring feats into the present marketing campaign – resulting in Paul Merson labelling him “a lot better” than Sesko.
“However he’s a a lot better participant than Sesko, a lot better. And he’s doing it within the Premier League week in week out. As a participant you’ll love Mateta in your workforce.”
When evaluating his stats to these of Sesko, he’s managed to outperform him in key areas, together with his potential transfer undoubtedly a superb pickup for United.
Mateta, who’s been dubbed “among the finest strikers within the Premier League” by Ben Mattinson, has scored thrice extra targets than Sesko, while additionally reaching a greater shot on the right track accuracy fee.
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How Mateta & Sesko examine within the PL (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Mateta |
Sesko |
|
Video games performed |
11 |
11 |
|
Targets & assists |
6 |
3 |
|
Shot on the right track accuracy |
50% |
38% |
|
Take-on success |
55% |
20% |
|
Carries into last third |
0.8 |
0.4 |
|
Aerials gained |
51% |
48% |
|
Pictures on the right track per 90 |
1.4 |
0.9 |
|
Move accuracy |
65% |
63% |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
Such numbers showcase his scientific nature throughout the last third, typically capable of benefit from extra of the alternatives which have fallen his manner in entrance of purpose.
He’s additionally accomplished extra take-ons within the Premier League, while finishing extra carries into the ultimate third per 90, which has definitely made him a extra all-round menace.
Aerially, Mateta has dominated, subsequently successful extra of the battles he’s entered – making him the proper goal man in Amorim’s present system at Outdated Trafford.
£40m in at present’s market can be an absolute steal for a striker who’s been producing unbelievable goalscoring numbers on the prime stage over a number of years.
As for Sesko, he desperately wants to search out type within the Premier League to keep away from dropping his place within the aspect at Mateta’s expense forward of January and past.
Sesko repeat: Wilcox plotting Man Utd transfer for “world-class” £70m expertise
Manchester United look set to make one more big-money switch in January.
