Manchester United got the clearest indication yet of where they should be focusing their attention to improve their midfield after they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday night.
The Red Devils took all three points at Stamford Bridge thanks to a Matheus Cunha strike in the first half, leaving them ten points clear of the Blues in the race for Champions League football next season.
INEOS are already targeting midfield upgrades for the upcoming transfer window, with reports that Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson is the top target. But after watching the performance of the team, and the importance of Kobbie Mainoo, it's clear they should be pushing just as hard to sign another star too.
Man Utd Need Quality Depth
manchester united mainoo
United fell to defeat against Leeds at Old Trafford on Monday night when they were forced to name a midfield of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, leaving them bereft of someone who can dictate the tempo of a game and is comfortable in tight spaces.
The difference was obvious on Saturday night though, with Mainoo back in the side, as he turned in a masterful performance to dominate the midfield alongside the experienced Brazilian, restricting Chelsea to zero major chances throughout the game.
Carrick was quick to praise the performance of the England international after the game too, stating it was his best performance during his tenure at the club so far.
While Anderson is capable of stepping into the side and helping Mainoo do that too, while also doing the dirty side of the game defensively to replace Casemiro, Wharton would be able to come in and do a similar job, provide cover and would also be cheaper than Anderson.
Reports suggest that Wharton is likely to cost around £80m, as Palace look to secure a record fee for their star player this year, and United should be going all out to ensure he doesn't get elsewhere.
Wharton Can Be Man Utd's Modric
Adam Wharton playing for England vs Albania
Wharton, who has been compared to Luka Modric, has been a target for Man Utd for some time. But reports emerged recently that INEOS have cooled their pursuit recently, as they believe he is 'too similar' to Mainoo.
But Man Utd should be doing exactly that - finding players similar to their best central midfielder, to ensure they aren't weaker if something happens to him, and to make it clear that there is competition for places for everyone.
United have a glaring hole in midfield, and bringing in both Anderson and Wharton this summer would solve it for them.
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