Paul Merson has warned Manchester United about pursuing a transfer for a £100 million Premier League star as he is not “wow-factored over him.”
After the dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham in the Premier League, Manchester United are gearing up for a tight Champions League race until the end of the season.
The club are currently in fourth on 41 points and sits just five points behind Aston Villa in third. However, despite being in the driving seat for Champions League football next season, United must remain cautious.
Chelsea sit just a point behind United, and Liverpool are just two points away from the Red Devils, meaning any slip-up could prove costly for United.
Having Champions League football is not only important on the pitch, but away from the field, it will allow the club more spending power and make them a more attractive proposition in the summer transfer window.
Merson suggests Wharton over Anderson
Elliot Anderson has been identified as one of the two main targets in the summer for Manchester United, alongside Carlos Baleba.
Despite Nottingham Forest languishing in the lower end of the table, the Englishman has no shortage of suitors, with Manchester City also in the race for his signature, meaning for United to have a major chance, Champions League qualification is paramount.
However, Paul Merson is not impressed by this potential transfer and has instead suggested an alternative for United.
Speaking to the Metro, he said: “I like Elliot Anderson, but I’m not wow-factored over him. They’re fourth bottom of the league, Forest, so they’re not dominating all midfields, are they? And if you’re a midfield player, that’s where the engine is. Do you know what I mean?
“I would go for Adam Wharton ahead of him.”
Anderson would still add more balance
Should United go for Wharton, he would still be a sensational player. His on-the-ball technique in tandem with Kobbie Mainoo would make one of the most technically gifted midfield pivots in the league.
However, with the league shifting to being more about physicality, pace and power, alongside technical ability, Anderson or even Carlos Baleba would bring that point of difference in the midfield.
Casemiro currently holds that type of role for the side, so any big-money replacement would have to be capable of playing a similar role.
With Mainoo providing the composure, playmaking and technical brilliance, and Anderson providing the high-energy pressing, there would be much more balance in terms of a variety of skillsets.
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