Wayne Rooney urges Arsenal to swoop for Man United target, Crystal Palace striker Mateta
On Monday, March 10, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney advised Arsenal to hijack their rivals’ transfer pursuit of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The 27-year-old Frenchman has impressed this season, earning interest from Manchester United after playing a key role in Palace’s solid Premier League campaign. Mateta helped the Eagles finish 10th last season and has continued to be a pivotal figure in their attack.
Rooney, who witnessed Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, believes the Gunners are in need of a strong striker to complement their attacking play. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said, “Jean-Philippe Mateta is a big, strong lad who scores a lot of goals. From watching Arsenal over the past few games, they have put a lot of balls into the box without having anyone to get on the end of them. I am sure he would help from that point of view.”
Mateta, who is reportedly valued at £40 million, struggled in his first two seasons at Palace but has since found his form, becoming one of the most reliable strikers in the Premier League. The former FSV Mainz forward has started 44 out of the 46 games for the Eagles in recent seasons.
