Manchester United started the season with a defeat at Old Trafford, but there’s no denying that some semblance of a tactical plan was discernible, and that the Red Devils might just be turning the tide after a wretched year.
Things didn’t go to plan for Ruben Amorim when he replaced Erik ten Hag in 2024, slumping to a 15th-place Premier League finish and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, but the summer transfer business since has held much promise.
In particular, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look to be terrific signings, both playing well against Arsenal on Sunday. Benjamin Sesko’s second-half cameo also let the Old Trafford fans know that there is a new striker in the building, and one with bucketloads of potential at that.
But defensive frailties have been carried from last season to the current term, and while United are targeting a new goalkeeper, it’s clear that a centre-midfielder would make a world of difference across what is truly a critical juncture in the prestigious club’s trajectory.
Why Man Utd want a midfielder
Casemiro might not be at his career best anymore, but he’s certainly made certain pundits eat their words in rebounding commendably from wretched form to play a part in Amorim’s project.
Still, building up from the back smoothly and slickly isn’t prominent within the Brazilian’s repertoire, and that’s why Amorim has been determined to sign a new ball-playing specialist with a combative side this summer.
Efforts have been taken, if not yet exhausted. Fans hope to see Kobbie Mainoo feature more heavily across the coming year, while Manuel Ugarte continues to be a mixed bag, strong against the ball but unconvincing when in possession.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba had been tracked, with club-to-club talks even taking place, but the Seagulls’ not-for-sale stance is absolute (for this summer, at least).
The up-and-coming talent is worth a pretty penny, all right, but United feel they would be getting bang for their buck. Look at Declan Rice over at the Emirates Stadium, who cost a staggering sum but has since proved himself to be the lifeblood of Mikel Arteta’s title-challenging midfield.
The clock is ticking, but Man United may yet make a marquee move to seal a promising summer window and ensure their manager has the tools to engineer the badly desired resurgence.
Amorim driving late Man Utd deal
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with Amorim thought to be personally championing the potential bid, which shows that he the dream target for the head coach.
Baleba had been United’s top target, but that door has indeed been closed, with Wharton earmarked as a fallback who might even prove a better signing than the Cameroonian talent.
Wharton has been reported to be the outfit’s dream target, but if the Eagles were to green-light the sale of their most marketable player, they would likely need to fork out a staggering £100m sum.
What Adam Wharton would bring to Man Utd
Crystal Palace only signed the 21-year-old Wharton from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024 for an £18m fee, but he’s since gone from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the most exciting English talents out there.
Last season, he was affected by a groin injury that sidelined him for middle of the campaign, but he still showcased his ball-playing quality and athletic style, covering plenty of ground.
Data from FBref conveys it neatly: the data-driven platform reveals that Wharton ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe over the past year for progressive passes, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90.
A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.
His all-action midfield style, underlaid by a potential mastery of the ball-playing side of the game – he’s been described as a “passing machine” by journalist Henry Winter, after all – even suggests that United could sign their own version of Rice by completing this signing.
Like Rice, Wharton has been valued above the nine-digit threshold, with Arsenal signing the Three Lions heavyweight from West Ham United for £105m in 2023, right after he led his side to a rare slice of silverware.
In this way, Wharton shares a likeness with his compatriot. Now 26, the Gunners man is a superstar, but look at how he compares to Wharton compared in 2023/24 against Rice’s closing campaign as a Hammer.
Matches (starts)
16 (15)
35 (33)
Goals
0
4
Assists
3
7
Touches*
49.6
57.6
Pass completion
81%
90%
Big chances created
5
16
Key passes*
1.3
1.7
Dribble success
60%
61%
Ball recoveries*
5.3
9.2
Tackles + interceptions*
4.3
2.2
Duels (won)*
4.9 (54%)
3.4 (51%)
Wharton didn’t quite achieve the same degree of fluency and confidence last year, largely due to injuries, but to have made such a start to his top-flight career at a season’s midpoint, and as a young player, is an incredible feat, and makes Amorim’s desire to seal his signature all the more clear.
He’s not quite so all-encompassing a midfield player as Rice, but Wharton has that maestro tinge to his skill set that is exactly what Amorim needs to advance his transitional play.
Moreover, Wharton’s high volume of tackles and interceptions makes a telling comment on his defensive ability, as he has the positioning, the timing, and the strength to excel out of possession in the middle of the park.
Of course, there’s been something of a trickling exodus at Selhurst Park this summer, with Eberechi Eze on the cusp of a transfer to Arsenal and Marc Guehi strongly mooted to be headed for Anfield.
Prising Wharton away from chairman Steve Parish won’t be an easy feat by any stretch. Should Parish double down on his stance that Wharton isn’t for sale, expect INEOS and Amorim to retain their intrigue in England’s future midfield star.
If United must play the long game, there’s every chance they will do so. Wharton is worth waiting for; he’s that good.