Manchester United failed to bring a midfielder to the club in the summer despite being linked with a host of stars – and it looks as though that could be their next move in the upcoming transfer windows.
The Red Devils landed a brand new attacking contingent this summer, with Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha coming into their ranks.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Senne Lammens has provided a new outlook in goal after some poor performances from Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
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Ruben Amorim will be keen to add more and more quality to his club to help propel them into the European spots, and eventually the Champions League, with a midfielder next on their list.
And that has seen Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish issue Manchester United with an ultimatum in terms of their chase for midfielder Adam Wharton.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in action during his side's UEFA Conference League play-off match against Fredrikstad
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says there is ‘no pressure’ to sell Man United target Adam Wharton
Wharton was linked with a move to Old Trafford towards the end of the summer transfer window once Brighton star Carlos Baleba became unattainable for Manchester United.
The one-time England cap has massively impressed in the Premier League, being a key reason for Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup and entering their first European competition.
Being young, English, talented and starring in an area that United need through the door means that their interest is no surprise, as reported by the Daily Star who gave Wharton a £60million price tag.
And Parish believes that although Wharton will want to play in the Champions League at some point, he’s issued a hands-off warning to Ruben Amorim. Parish said to talkSPORT: “I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club.
“He’s an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can’t speak for Adam, but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace.
“He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had that a lot of young players get.
“I think this season he’s completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It’s a difficult programme for us right now.
“If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, that’s nothing surprising really about that.
“The fact of the matter is he’s got a long contract to run. There’s no pressure on us to do it, and I don’t think there’s any real pressure from the player either.”
There is no doubting Wharton’s quality and it’s clear that United would benefit from his deep-lying style of play alongside Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Ruben Amorim waves to Manchester United's supporters after his side's victory against Sunderland at Old Trafford
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Adam Wharton would be an immense signing for Manchester United
Wharton has had another exceptional season, marking almost two years at Selhurst Park.
Even this season, FBREF state that he has created 3.94 chances resulting in shots, as well as recording 0.31 expected assists – the best in the Premier League for players who share his position.
Elsewhere, he ranks in the top 23 percent of players in the league for progressive passes with 5.98, in the top four percent for key passes with 2.12, and in the top six percent for through balls per 90 with 0.58.
At just 21 years of age, the Blackburn Rovers academy graduate is a superb modern midfielder, with tackling and passing in abundance, and it won’t be long until he is starting regularly for England.
If United can mould him into one of their top stars alongside Bruno in the short-term, and another midfielder in the long-term, it would be a stroke of genius from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.