Manchester United are believed to be among a host of clubs monitoring Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton after his stellar rise in recent years
Adam Wharton has been linked with a move to Manchester United from Crystal Palace
Adam Wharton has been linked with a move to Manchester United from Crystal Palace (Image: (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images))
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Manchester United have been told to make Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton their top target next summer. United spent heavily in the most recent summer transfer window, but it appears that the Reds' big spending under Ruben Amorim is not finished quite yet.
Amorim wants midfield reinforcements as his No.1 priority to rebuild his squad, and the Reds have made Wharton one of their main transfer targets. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are also targets, but former United coach Rene Meulensteen has told his old club to secure the services of Wharton.
“I’m a big fan of Wharton; I think he should be the number one priority for United next summer," the Dutchman said via BestNewBingoSites.
“He would be the perfect player to add to their squad, but I don’t think the move will be possible until next summer. He’s got great feet, and he is an effective and efficient player.
“He is always looking forward when he has the ball, which is a top-quality trait to have as a midfielder. He’s great in small spaces when he is being closed down quickly, and he always breaks the lines to find his unmarked teammates.
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“His range of passing is second to none, and he has Premier League experience playing in the same formation that Amorim is playing at Man United. It’s an absolute no-brainer for United to sign Wharton next summer.”
Wharton still has three-and-a-half years left on his contract at Palace, but his agent, James Featherstone, has already outlined his ambition to join a big Premier League club to boost his England chances.
“When he was at Blackburn we sat down and spoke about shooting for the stars and playing for England,” he said.
“So how do you get there? Personally I think to play for England you have to play (in the) Champions League, to play in the Champions League you have got to play for one of the top teams in one of the top leagues.
“That jump to a Champions League team, I think you can get lost. The plan below that was to play for a Premier League team.
Adam Wharton in action for Crystal Palace against Manchester City
Adam Wharton in action for Crystal Palace against Manchester City (Image: Getty Images)
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“We have got a plan. He is 21. I have to check myself to remember that every now and then. It doesn’t have to be achieved yesterday, today or this moment.
“He has got his in-game, in-season targets and goals. He has got to do his bit and the rest will look after itself in a very structured, calm way to ultimately add value and maximise his ability.”
Palace chief Steve Parish has also already hinted at further sales at Selhurst Park next summer despite the Eagles being on course for a second successive European qualification.
"We've got one eye on players who we might have to replace in the summer," he revealed earlier this month. "We're not going to throw it all on red and have a massive problem.
"Unless you want to be in a situation where you're constantly putting in money every year, there's a cash limit to what you can spend. You can't spend money you don't have.
"You have to have some guardrails as a club, or you'll build up big problems down the track. Everyone saw where prices went in the summer; it's a difficult landscape."There wasn't the right thing available at the right time when the finances were in place. There's no point in doing something for the sake of it. How are you going to get someone to come and tell them they are No 1 in Ebs [Eze] position if you still have him?"The one where we didn't, with Marc [Guehi], we kept him. You can’t always make happen what you want to. We are where we are in the pecking order; you could ask why other clubs make bids for our players two weeks before the end of the window. I don’t know why they did that.”