Ruben Amorim just ruined Crystal Palace swap deal for Man Utd in interview gaffe - opinion

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.

Speaking on Deadline Day, the former Arsenal star told Sky Sports: “Man United should get Mateta, that’s what they need. He’s a strong lad up front, playing at the top of his game, he leads the line, scoring goals now. He runs and works his socks off harder than anyone you know. 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. 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.”

Man Utd tipped to offer Crystal Palace £72 million striker

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.

However, speaking after a bitter 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford on Sunday, Amorim appeared to hint that could be harder than it seems for Crystal Palace. The Manchester United boss attempted to defend the striker’s poor form, but came across exasperated and out of ideas of what more to do. If he hopes to offload Hojlund to a rival, he ought to have been more convincing.

He said: "I think if you look at the games we have several players that miss big chances, not just Rasmus. Of course, Rasmus, the game is to score goals because he's a striker, but it's a team thing. I already said that. Our team should score more goals, it's not just Rasmus missing chances.

"The only way I know is to work on him and show him the videos. Like you said he needs to score a goal and he won't score if he is out [of the team] so I try to manage that during games. He needs to score, that's all, like a striker needs."

Alan Shearer: Rasmus Hojlund is a ‘damaged player’

Amorim has had over five months trying to work with Hojlund and seems to have tried everything. Crystal Palace should see those quotes as a red flag - resulting to teaching the player ABCs on a video screen is not promising. If Mateta is sold, he needs replacing straightaway with a striker ready to bag goals and Hojlund is not that by any stretch of the imagination.

Underlining that point when speaking on Match of the Day 2, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer said: "I am looking at a damaged player in Hojlund. He wasn't ready and isn't ready to lead the attack at a club like Man Utd. I am seeing a guy who doesn't want to get in there. There is no doubt a crisis in confidence. He has been put into a really difficult situation.

"He is not at the stage of his career to lead the line. I'm not saying there is not a good player there, I think there is, but with the pressure there is, he is not ready to lead the line yet."

In other news, Crystal Palace 'agree' new contract with defender linked with Premier League exit.