Ruben Amorim just ruined Crystal Palace swap deal for Man Utd in interview gaffe – opinion
Crystal Palace should hear alarm bells in the recent comments from Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United are hotly linked with a swoop for Crystal Palace bagsman Jean-Phillipe Mateta but Ruben Amorim’s latest comments may have inadvertently ruined hopes of pulling off that transfer.
The Red Devils are one of several sides said to be monitoring a potential transfer for Mateta, who has plundered 16 goals across all competitions this season. Amorim is in desperate need of a new striker to lead the line at Old Trafford and the prolific Frenchman is said to be top of the list, with former Premier League star Paul Merson pouring fuel onto the fire of those rumours in January.
“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. And Man Utd are playing Mainoo up front. If you’re one of those two centre forwards, I would say: I might as well go out on loan and play for Exeter this month.”
The rumours have continued over the months since then, with recent reports suggesting that Manchester United may look to woo Crystal Palace into a transfer by offering to send Rasmus Hojlund to London as part of a swap deal. The 22-year-old signed for the Red Devils for a staggering £72 million in 2023 but has scored just 13 goals in 58 Premier League appearances, and three in 28 this season.
The idea of replacing the prolific Mateta with the misfiring Hojlund will never have been tempting for Crystal Palace but there may have been some hope that Oliver Glanser could unlock something in the Danish star that has been missing in Manchester.
