Manchester United could miss out on a Premier League star after Liverpool held initial talks to sign the midfielder in 2026.
Manchester United had a relatively busy summer transfer window, which many fans would label a success due to the good start players like Bryan Mbuemo, Senne Lammens and Matheus Cunha have had at Old Trafford. However, Rúben Amorim’s side is lacking in midfield options, an area which has been rather inconsistent throughout the campaign.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have performed relatively well in most games, but some fixtures have seen them be completely overrun. The pair are both over 30 years old and not getting any younger, and with Kobbie Mainoo seeming to be unhappy with his situation, Amorim’s options are thin.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window, on the other hand, was nothing short of incredible on paper, but the marquee signings they made have not lived up to expectations thus far.
Alexander Isak broke the Premier League transfer record, costing Liverpool approximately £125 million, but the Swede has only managed one goal in eight appearances.
Now, the reigning Premier League champions have their targets set on a player who has played a key role in winning their side both the FA Cup and Community Shield. A player who has also been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford over the past couple of seasons.
Liverpool to hold initial talks with Wharton
Adam Wharton has been key to Crystal Palace’s success under Oliver Glasner, having signed for the Eagles in February 2024. The England international has been at the heart of the side during their recent success, even playing a role in Palace’s penalty-shootout victory over Liverpool at the start of the season.
According to DaveOCKOP, it has been revealed that Liverpool are holding initial talks to discuss signing the Palace and England star in 2026. It is a deal that is more likely to take place in the summer of 2026 rather than the upcoming January transfer window.
This will come as bad news to United fans, as the Red Devils have been heavily linked with the 21-year-old. Losing out on Wharton to their fiercest rivals could cause some unrest, as it again sees Liverpool taking a more ambitious and ruthless stance on their transfer policy.
Although Wharton is a talented player, United have also been linked to players who have proven to be effective under Amorim’s guidance.
Morten Hjulmand is a player who captained Amorim’s sporting side, which brought him great success. It has previously been reported that the player could be interested in returning to play under the Portuguese coach.
Is missing out on Wharton a huge blow for United?
Although Amorim clearly needs to bring in reinforcements to the midfield, Wharton may not be as big a blow as it seems on paper. This is because United have a ready-made replacement for Casemiro, who seems destined to leave, on the bench.
It has been reported recently that Mainoo has attracted interest from huge Serie A sides for a loan deal until the end of the season. If this were to happen, it wouldn’t definitely be the end of his United career. Impressing on loan in Italy could be the exact platform the 20-year-old needs to show Amorim he is ready to play a key role at United.
It could be a similar story to Scott McTominay, who reignited his career after leaving Manchester for Napoli, but for Mainoo, he would still be on the books at United after his loan deal finishes. Of course, external players will also have to be brought in to strengthen the depth and build for the future.
This is where Hjulmand could become so key for Amorim if it were to come to fruition. Hjumland would be able to adapt quickly to Amorim’s system, and when it is time for both Fernandes and Casemiro to move on, a partnership of Mainoo and Hjumland could be the future for Amorim.
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