Manchester United should have considered making a bid for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to Paul Merson.

The Sky Sports pundit says the 27-year-old is “100 times better” than the club’s current forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee:

“Man United should get Mateta, that’s what they need but they won’t because he plays for Palace. And everyone would go: ‘What are you buying him for’?”

“But he’s 100 times better than anyone Man Utd have in the front line. Not Amad, he’s a young kid – but he’s much better than Hojlund and Zirkzee at the moment.”

Mateta has been excellent over the last 18 months

There is no doubt that the Frenchman is in the form of his life at the moment. His two goals at Old Trafford at the weekend took his total for the season up to 13 in all competitions.

Last season, Mateta found the back of the net 19 times. He would be an upgrade on Hojlund, who has only scored 23 in the same period, with only 7 this campaign.

Why didn’t United reinforce their frontline before the transfer deadline?

The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules are restricting the club’s ability to make moves in the transfer market.

With the exception of recruiting Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, the Red Devils had a very quiet January, with the club said to be prioritising the summer for a squad rebuild.

They didn’t want to spend money this month if the funds could be put to better use at the end of the season when their top targets would become available. Reports suggest the club are likely to sign Geovany Quenda from Ruben Amorim’s former club Sporting Lisbon. The 17-year-old is expected to cost around €60m (£50m) if the deal is finalised.

Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here