Adam Wharton has emerged as a potential target for Man Utdplaceholder image
Adam Wharton has emerged as a potential target for Man Utd | Getty Images/ Canva
Man Utd are keen to sign a talented Crystal Palace gem after missing out on a Brighton and Hove Albion talent
Manchester United are reported to have diverted their transfer focus towards popular Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
The Red Devils are currently in the process of a huge rebuild after a disappointing season which saw them finish 15th in the Premier League table; three places and nine points behind Oliver Glasner’s side.
They’ve so far spent big with the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford respectively while they have also splashed the cash on RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko despite well documented reports of interest from Newcastle United.
Man Utd plot move for Adam Wharton
It’s suspected that strengthening the central area of the midfield is the next key item on the agenda for Ruben Amorim to focus on. The Old Trafford club were heavily linked with Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Carlos Baleba but appear to have been priced out of a move after learning of the 21-year-old’s reported £116m price tag.
The Seagulls made £115m from the sale of Moises Caicedo and it’s suspected that the hierarchy value Baleba in the same sort of ball park. United are unwilling to spend a Premier League equalling transfer record to sign the player and are thought to be weighing up other alternatives.
It’s reported by talkSPORT that Adam Wharton is one of those after a sensational 18-month period in a Crystal Palace shirt. Wharton was signed from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 and in his first 18 months has already won his first cap for England, been selected for the European Championships and helped the Eagles to their first ever major honour by defeating Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final.
Wharton is a tough-tackling defensive midfielder with excellent ability to read the game, great ball control and the vision to pick out excellent passes. He’s racked up a total of 45 appearances in a Palace shirt, contributing six assists, but has not yet found the back of the net.
The Blackburn-born midfielder is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2029 and is seen as an important part of the vision under Oliver Glasner as the club prepares for a campaign in the Conference League.
What does the future hold for Adam Wharton?
Adam Wharton has had a taste of tournament football with England but failed to actually get on to the pitch at any point during Euro 2024. His aim this time around is not just to make the squad but be a regular on the pitch as Thomas Tuchel aims to lead the team to glory for the first time since 1966. Wharton told talkSPORT: "My season last year was a bit stop-start with injury. So for Palace, I want to stay as fit as possible, play as many games as I can, because obviously we'll have a lot of games this year, hopefully.
"And just try and help the team as much as possible and to do even better than we did last year. Then, I think every player that's English in the Premier League wants to be picked to go to America come the end of their season. I don't really set too many goals personally. I just take it game by game, trying to improve and I can feel within myself if I'm doing well or I can be doing better. Obviously when the time comes, then you're hopeful that your name will be picked and you're on the plane."
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