Manchester United, being one of the biggest football clubs in the world, are in the hunt in the ongoing summer transfer window. Right now, they have one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League in their sights.
Adam Wharton has been an excellent player for Crystal Palace for years now. Having signed for the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in 2024, he has swiftly established himself as a key player at Selhurst Park.
This summer, however, he could be on the move. United are one of the main parties looking to bring him on board at the moment, as are Chelsea.
According to a report from CaughtOffside, United’s interest in the player ‘remains active’, while Chelsea are also within the mix right now.
However, there are certain barriers in place. Palace have slapped a price tag of £85 million on Wharton’s head, which United aren’t willing to meet.
For Chelsea, the asking price isn’t the issue. Their squad is already bloated – they feel they would need to reduce their number of playing staff before a transfer for the 22-year-old would become a possibility.
Furthermore, United and Chelsea aren’t the only clubs who have been linked with Wharton’s signature in the past few weeks. According to the Daily Express, Wharton is one of many names on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer agenda.
As well as this, a report from BBC Sport claims that Liverpool made enquiries into Wharton’s availibility earlier in the summer, but nothing has surfaced since.
Additionally, according to Transferfeed, Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the player. On top of this, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa have a retroactive interest in Wharton’s services.
Adam Wharton 2025/26 Premier League stats
What would Adam Wharton bring to Man Utd or Chelsea?
Wharton is a very well rounded holding midfielder who possesses all the attributes you’d want in the modern era. His passing, however, is his strongest point.
He likes to dictate the tempo and control the rhythm of games from a deep position. He can keep things ticking over with short passes or create chances himself by spraying long balls from his own half.
Wharton is also an excellent tackler, having no reservations over throwing himself into meaty challenges when he is called upon to do so.
Recently, he has also begun to show excellent movement off the ball in advanced areas. He isn’t afraid to make daring runs into the opposition box to try and find the back of the net.
He isn’t the quickest footballer in the world by any stretch, but his intelligence on the pitch and his brilliant anticipation and football vision more than make up for any athletic limitations.
His talents have led him to four England caps at this fledgling stage of his career. Despite this, he failed to make it into Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad for the 2026 World Cup. Regardless, he remains a solid option for England to call upon.