Man United handed thumping transfer hammer blow as £60m target transfer backed to join arch rivals instead

Ruben Amorim is heading into the summer transfer window with his eyes set on building a squad with more attacking firepower, as they are the fifth-lowest-scoring team in the Premier League this season.

They are set to sign a striker in the summer, however, Amorim will also be targeting players who can play in the number 10 role that the United boss likes to play behind a central striker.

Matheus Cunha looks likely to become a Man United player in the summer, but Amorim will likely want more in that position, however, a key transfer target could join a different club instead.

Eze prefers move to Liverpool over Man United

One player that Man United have been linked to is Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, who has impressed in Oliver Glasner’s side this season. Eze has made 38 appearances for Palace, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions. He has attracted interest from several top Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, alongside Man United, and so there could be a battle to land him this summer.

The midfielder helped the Eagles to the FA Cup final against Manchester City after he scored during their semi-final win against Aston Villa over the weekend. He now looks set to reject a move to Old Trafford, with Liverpool being his preferred destination.

Former Premier League scout Mick Brown revealed that a move to United wouldn’t suit Eze’s career wants at this stage in his development. He told Football Insider: “His performance at Wembley has certainly done him no harm. He’s proved he can do it on the big stage with a lot of pressure and focus on him.

“From what I hear, he’s not going to be interested in a move to United. He’ll be looking at the evidence of players who have gone before him, he doesn’t want to become another example of what United can do to players. A move to Liverpool or Arsenal, who have been interested, would be much better for him.“

The midfielder is expected to be worth around £46m this summer, but Palace are to indicate how much they would be prepared to sell him for amid all the interest in the 26-year-old England international.

United could sign Palace duo

Eze isn’t the only Eagles player that United have been linked to ahead of the summer transfer window. Jean-Philippe Mateta has also emerged as a potential striker target as Amorim looks to add a goal scorer up top. Mateta has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, with his most recent being a superb finish where he lobbed Arsenal keeper David Raya to earn Glasner’s side a draw at the Emirates last week.

It has been claimed that Mateta would command a transfer fee of around £40m, which is much cheaper than several other strikers that United are looking at. Victor Osimhen has been heavily linked to United, but he has a release clause of £62m.

Due to United’s precarious position with regards to profit and sustainability rules, they could opt for Mateta instead, who has already proven himself in the Premier League. However, it is unlikely that Palace would be willing to sell both Mateta and Eze this summer.

In other news, Man United 'offered' chance to sign ex-Fulham midfield machine - but Man City could get there first.