Man Utd transfer news: Amorim 'decides on new striker' after Matheus Cunha deal

 Manchester United are striving to dodge another disappointing season after failing to secure a spot in European football next year.

Despite losing the Europa League final to Spurs and heading for a Premier League finish which could be, at best, 14th, they're on the brink of signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are eyeing up another thrilling forward to bolster the squad.

The rest of the squad is seemingly up for sale, but securing Cunha is believed to be a smoother process compared to other Premier League stars, given that the Portuguese forward has a £62.5million release clause in his contract this summer.

Despite United's inability to offer Champions League, Europa League, or even UEFA Conference League football for the 2025/26 season, he's reportedly still keen to join.

Following a lacklustre Rasmus Hojlund performance in the Bilbao final against Tottenham, the INEOS bosses are now also prepared to greenlight another striker. They might bag a bargain too, with Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta in their sights.

L'Equipe reports that United have shifted their focus to Mateta following another standout season in England. The 27 year old Frenchman netted 17 goals across all competitions this season, leading Oliver Glasner's FA Cup-winning attack.

Palace are unlikely to want to let Mateta go, particularly after securing a spot in next season's Europa League. They aim to bulk up Glasner's squad to handle the increased number of matches the Eagles will play, reports the Express.

However, with just over a year left on his contract, Palace could lose Mateta for nothing if they don't cash in this summer. From January, he'll be free to discuss future transfers with overseas clubs.

As a result, Mateta might be up for grabs at a bargain price, and he's eager to catch the eye of France manager Didier Deschamps to secure a spot in next year's World Cup squad. There's no better stage than United for that.

There's been no hint that Palace are ready to let go of their star striker, but they do have Eddie Nketiah as backup after shelling out £30m for the ex-Arsenal player nearly a year ago.

A return to Ligue 1 hasn't been ruled out for Mateta either. He played for France in last year's Olympics under Thierry Henry, but he's still waiting for a call-up to the national team.

If Mateta turns down a move to Old Trafford, United have other options, with Liam Delap, Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres all rumoured to be on Ruben Amorim's radar for what looks set to be a hectic summer.