Manchester United impressed against Arsenal but Ruben Amorim’s transfer window isn’t over
To paraphrase Zinedine Zidane, Manchester United have succeeded in putting a new layer of gold paint on their Bentley with the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko but the engine still needs work so signing a new midfielder before the transfer window closes is absolutely is absolutely imperative.
Manchester United were genuinely barnstorming particularly in the first half against Arsenal despite the scoreline - Cunha and Mbeumo ran Arteta’s backline ragged ably supported by Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot and the Gunners were forced to adopt a much more conservative game plan in the second half.
The only problem was the lack of a focal point with Sesko left on the bench barely a week after completing his move from RB Leipzig yet that is only a short-term issue and the 22-year-old will surely start next time out against Fulham.
The most impactful difference (and one of Arsenal’s only match up wins) was in goal as David Raya produced a string of saves while Altay Bayindir was at fault for the Gunners’ set-piece winner though ironically one of their goalkeeper targets, Gianluigi Donnarumma, has faced similar criticism alongside an Andre Onana-like penchant for brain fades with the ball at his feet.
However, Arsenal’s second-half switch exposed another problem with Amorim’s side that should be more apparent at Craven Cottage and in most of their games this season - a difficulty to break down a side in a low block that even Sesko’s introduction couldn’t fix.
Adam Wharton can transform Man United’s attack
Watching Adam Wharton repeatedly picking Chelsea apart at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, it’d be easy to forget that he’s only been a top-flight player for 19 months and still hasn’t played the equivalent of a full Premier League season’s worth of games in the competition.
However, Wharton continues to prove that if they’re good enough, they’re old enough and he was one of the best deep-lying creative threats not just in England, but across Europe last season.
Among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues according to Opta via FBRef.com, Wharton was in the top 6% for expected assisted goals; the top 10% for key passes, progressive passes and shot-creating actions, and incredibly the top 3% for goals created from dead ball passes.
And while the effectiveness of his tackling could certainly be improved (and where better to hone that skill than under the tutelage of Casemiro?), his appetite for defensive work certainly can’t be questioned as Wharton ranked in the top 25 of Premier League players for tackles attempted last season - excluding players who played less than five games.
He was also in the top 7% of the league for ball recoveries at seven per match, but can the Red Devils actually prise Wharton from Crystal Palace?
Can Manchester United sign Adam Wharton?
Unlike certain Eagles teammates, Wharton hasn’t made a huge song and dance about wanting to leave Selhurst Park and as a boyhood Blackburn Rovers fan, it seems like the Red Devils may not have the same draw as they have with other marquee signings this window.
He appears happy to stay in SE25 for another season and develop in a World Cup season and given how many careers particularly of England stars that Manchester United have completely torched - look no further than Jadon Sancho.
While the competition for places in England’s midfield is fierce and Wharton was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s maiden squad after an injury-hit campaign, the 21-year-old offers the Three Lions a range and intelligence of passing that they can’t find anywhere else and if he is fit for the majority of 2025/26 it’d be shocking to see him miss out for the trip to North America.
Wharton would also be stepping down from a European power to a side who were lucky not to be threatened with relegation last season and giving up the opportunity to prove himself in a continental competition, albeit for a healthy bump in wages.
However, he has the quality to improve most teams in the world (even Real Madrid have expressed an interest, to fill the void left by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric’s departures) and if he can have the Bruno Fernandes-like impact at Old Trafford that he’s capable of, Wharton would elevate his status to one of the biggest players in the world.
Even if the Eagles do up their price - valuations of Wharton have varied wildly and even reached nine figures - it will still be cheaper than what Brighton have quoted for Baleba and that’d be money well spent on someone who can be the missing piece for Manchester United.
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