Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has publicly advised Manchester United to solve their striking woes by signing Crystal Palace and France forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The recommendation comes as United endure a severe goal-scoring crisis, having wasted a staggering £145.7 million on strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Benjamin Sesko over the last three seasons. Hojlund, who managed just four goals last term, was loaned out at the start of the current campaign. His replacement, Sesko, has only scored twice before suffering a knee injury against Tottenham that is expected to keep him sidelined until mid-December.
United's Goal-Scoring Crisis Laid Bare
The full extent of United's problems in front of goal was brutally exposed during their Monday night defeat to Everton. Despite registering 25 attempts on Jordan Pickford's goal, Ruben Amorim's side only hit the target six times, finishing the match frustrated and goalless.
Manager Amorim admitted his deep concern in the aftermath, stating, 'I feel afraid of returning to this feeling of last season, that is my biggest concern.' He added that his players 'need to be better' and that the team was 'not even near at the moment where we're supposed to be in this club.'
Why Mateta Fits the Bill for United
Sagna, the 42-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester City full-back, believes the 28-year-old Mateta possesses the specific qualities United are desperately lacking. 'They don’t really have a No 9 who is tall, can hold the ball and can get on the end of crosses,' Sagna told Oddspedia.
He elaborated that while adapting to a new club with many new players could be challenging, 'a move to Old Trafford would be good for him and the club.' Sagna also suggested that Crystal Palace will find it difficult to retain their star man, especially given his ambition to compete at the highest level, a desire fuelled by his first call-up to the France national team in October.
Mateta's credentials are solid. He joined Palace on loan from Mainz in the 2020-21 season, making the move permanent in January 2022. He has since been central to their progress, scoring 52 goals in 166 appearances and winning the FA Cup last term. Although his contract was extended until June 2027 last December, reports indicate negotiations have since stalled over salary demands.
Sagna concluded, 'He’s not a young player anymore and it might be one of the last moves of his career, so he will probably push for it if the opportunity arises.'
A Critical Clash Ahead
The timing of this transfer talk is particularly poignant as Manchester United's next Premier League fixture is a trip to Selhurst Park to face Mateta and Crystal Palace on Sunday. For Amorim and his struggling squad, it represents a chance to directly assess a potential solution to their most glaring problem.
