Manchester United have had their eye on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for a while now. Even though they aren’t chasing a new striker right this second, they might get serious about Mateta if he pops up on the market.

Mateta’s a big part of Oliver Glasner’s plans at Palace, but his contract’s winding down—he’ll be in his final year come July. Last summer, plenty of clubs wanted him, and Palace actually turned down bids up to £50 million from Champions League teams. There was some late interest from Tottenham, too, but they didn’t make a formal offer and ended up bringing in Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG at the last minute. Atalanta, AC Milan, Juventus, and a handful of Premier League teams were also sniffing around the 28-year-old.

For now, though, United’s main focus is the next summer window, and they’re really looking to bring in a defensive midfielder.

That said, they’re keeping tabs on centre backs, too. United is one of the clubs watching Stade Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. He’s just 20, and a lot of teams are interested, but a January move looks tricky. Things could move quickly if someone else jumps in for Jacquet this month. Back in August 2025, Palace was keen on the France U21 international, but Rennes wanted to keep him for at least one more season. Since then, Jacquet signed a new deal that keeps him at Rennes until 2029.

Switching gears—United might let young winger Sam Mather leave for Kayserispor in Turkey. The Turkish side has been after him since the summer, but they ran out of time to get a deal done. Now they’ve put in a formal offer, and United are thinking it over. Mather was part of the United youth squad that lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2022, playing alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Injuries have slowed him down, and he hasn’t broken into the first team, but he’s picked up some senior experience on loan at Rochdale and Tranmere.

Manchester United has pulled Toby Collyer back from his loan at West Bromwich Albion. They announced the midfielder could play for Ruben Amorim’s squad in the second half of the season.

Collyer headed to West Brom on loan last summer, expected to stay there until the season wrapped up. He managed 12 games as a defensive midfielder before picking up a calf injury during a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in November.

By December 26, The Athletic reported Collyer was already back at Carrington for treatment and would be sidelined for about eight weeks.

Manchester United won’t send him back out on loan. Instead, he’s set to stick around and could add some depth to the midfield, especially if Kobbie Mainoo leaves.

Mainoo isn’t happy with his lack of minutes under Amorim and wants a loan move away from Old Trafford in January. He’s only managed 212 minutes in the league this season, all from the bench across 11 appearances.

Sources told TEAMtalk’s Dean Jones that United wants Mainoo to stay, but they’ll only let him go if they find the right replacement.

That replacement might end up being Collyer once he’s fit again. United have officially confirmed he’s back at the club and not going anywhere for the rest of the season.

Their official statement says Amorim could call on Collyer for the first team once he’s recovered: “A highly rated talent with a tremendous work ethic, Toby returns to United to focus on his recovery and perhaps bolster Ruben Amorim’s options in midfield.”

In other transfer news, Dean Jones has shared the latest on United’s interest in Conor Gallagher, who could be available on loan from Atletico Madrid in January. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s position on Alexis Mac Allister has thrown a wrench in United’s hunt for a Dutch prospect. And United now knows what it’ll take to sign an RB Leipzig star: £50 million.