Chelsea and Man Utd ready to blow transfer strategy apart to sign €22m Premier League striker

Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly ready to blow their transfer strategies apart to get their hands on a player who is surprisingly emerging as one of the Premier League’s hottest properties.

Crystal Palace hitman Jean-Philippe Mateta may not be a figure readily considered someone that either Chelsea or Man Utd might sign, but according to TBR, both clubs are tracking the in-form 27-year-old.

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Mateta is under contract with Palace until 2027 but his future is under question, with seven Premier League sides set to monitor the Frenchman until the end of the campaign.

As well as Chelsea and Man Utd, Mateta is also being watched by Newcastle United, West Ham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

The reason for this has been his red-hot form since Oliver Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. He has scored 26 goals in 41 outings under the Austrian – a rate that puts him below only a handful of Premier League superstars including Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Cole Palmer and Mo Salah.

Mateta has seen his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) rise to €22 million off the back of this form, with Palace having signed him for just €11m from Mainz.

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A change in policy?

What is most surprising about Chelsea and Man Utd being mentioned in dispatches over Mateta is that he seems to stand in contrast to the overall transfer policy of these sides.

Both these Premier League giants have pledged to sign young, upcoming talent that has both room for development on the field and potential sell-on value.

Mateta will be 28 by the time the new season begins, making him a surprise target for either side.

However, United in particular could have Profit and Sustainability (PSR) issues to contend with and may need to look for transfer bargains to fuel the rebirth of Ruben Amorim’s side, and to that end, Mateta, who bagged a brace against the Red Devils at the weekend, could be a smart addition.