Manchester United are still pressing for a summer move for Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton
Last season still stings like an old wound. It was painful to see Manchester United finish 15th in the Premier League 2024/25. Losing the Europa League final to Tottenham and then being eliminated from European competition for the upcoming season was a sign of hopelessness. Rubén Amorim took over mid-season, but the change did not translate on the pitch.
However, the club did not stop there in the ongoing summer transfer window and made some big moves. Names like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo joined the team. The presence of young Diego León brings new energy, while the arrival of Benjamin Šeško adds excitement. The centre-forward position seemingly looks sharp and resilient after Rasmus Højlund’s flop show last season. Fans in the stands should once again feel confident, at least by the looks of the names in the team sheet. The question is whether this is really a new beginning.
Start against Arsenal and the midfield gap
The first match of the new season will be against Arsenal at Old Trafford on 17 August. It is not an easy start against a side that finished second in the league last season and have been one of the most consistent sides in the last few seasons. Meanwhile, the midfield problems for the Red Devils are clearly visible.
.am Wharton
Adam Wharton: Manchester United’s bold £100M midfield target to spark Amorin’s vision!
Casemiro’s age is now slowing down his pace and agility as the Brazilian is nowhere close to his elite level. Christian Eriksen has said goodbye to the club. There was an attempt to bring Carlos Baleba, but Brighton’s high demand ended our pursuit. So, Amorim needs a player in midfield who can become the heartbeat of his 3-4-2-1 system. The Brighton midfielder was his first choice, but now the club are thinking in another direction. Fans like us are hoping, but there is a slight restlessness somewhere inside. Will Amorim’s thinking be materialised with actions?
Adam Wharton: Hope or betrayal?
Now, rumours have emerged yet again that Manchester United’s eyes are on Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. After the high price of Baleba, the English midfielder has emerged as an alternative option, and the club have been linked with the 21-year-old earlier as well. Wharton, who came out of Blackburn Rovers’ academy, has the spontaneity that can rejuvenate any midfield.
Reports suggest he could cost as much as £100 million, slightly less than Baleba. His crisp passing and game sense could fit into Amorim’s plans, but the potential departures of Marc Guéhi and Eberechi Eze from Palace could push Wharton’s price higher. Meanwhile, United have already invested heavily in Cunha, Mbeumo and Šeško, and failed to sell names like Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho, so far. So a deal this big is risky and also not realistic at this moment.
Opinion:
As a fan, the heart wants Wharton to play for United. The Englishman could elevate the quality of the midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes, and could be one of the best replacements for Casemiro. However, the mind says that the deal is unrealistic. The budget is limited, and to be honest, we don’t have a lot of days remaining till the end of the transfer window.
With Eze and Guehi already linked with a transfer move away from Selhurst Park, it’s a no-brainer that Palace will not let their midfield machine leave the club this summer, and by all possible means, United are in no position to pay the transfer price of another big signing right now. So, we count this as a baseless rumour despite our club’s links with the Englishman earlier this window.