Having been linked with the club for a while now, Manchester United are expected to bid for Adam Wharton after a rival club backed out.
While it remains uncertain whether a signing will arrive in the January transfer window or during the summer, Manchester United are planning significant midfield reinforcements in 2026.
After Rúben Amorim missed out on the club’s primary target, Carlos Baleba, last summer, United are expected to renew their interest in the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder next summer.
More recently, Crystal Palace duo Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson have emerged as potential targets, with both players impressing during the current Premier League campaign.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ João Gomes has been identified as a possible January acquisition, with the West Midlands club potentially looking to cash in on the midfielder amid genuine relegation concerns, which could significantly impact his market value.
United set to make bid for Wharton
The club’s strategy of signing Premier League-proven players has already started to pay off, with Bryan Mbeumo shining since joining from Brentford. While Matheus Cunha may have had a slower start to life at Old Trafford, the positives are there to see.
All four of Man United’s midfield targets currently play in the Premier League, and, as reported by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, the club are set to focus on securing the signature of Adam Wharton.
The outlet reports that the Manchester club are set to make an £88 million offer for the 21-year-old sensation.
While clubs such as Liverpool and Man City have also been linked, Man United will be boosted by the fact that Spanish giants Real Madrid have backed out of a potential deal, citing their unwillingness to make as high a bid as The Reds.
Wharton will leave Crystal Palace this summer
Despite signing a five-and-a-half-year deal in February 2024, it is almost confirmed that this season will be Wharton’s last at Selhurst Park.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Crystal Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, made a surprise statement, saying that the club are preparing to lose key players at the end of the season.
Wharton’s representatives further compounded this feeling. He said the midfielder’s ultimate aim is to play for England, and to do so, he has to be playing in the Champions League.
There is still a chance that Thomas Tuchel could opt to take Wharton to America next summer to participate in the World Cup, so any potential deal would have to wait until after the tournament has concluded.
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