There were tentative reports throughout the summer that Manchester United were keeping a close eye on Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
However, the North West powerhouse also accepted that it would be difficult to seal a deal for the youngster as he only arrived at Selhurst Park in January.
Instead, United opted to add Manuel Ugarte to their ranks in a £42 million plus add-ons deal on deadline day.
The 23-year-old Uruguay international is viewed as a top talent by the club – and could be another crucial building block for the 20-time English champions as they strive to revamp their midfield.
Ageing stars such as Brazil stalwart Casemiro and Denmark talisman Christian Eriksen, both 32, seem to be well past their best, and the duo will most likely move at the end of the campaign.
A star on the rise
One name new Sporting Director Dan Ashworth is extremely keen on is 20-year-old midfield starlet Wharton.
The England international was previously coveted during Ashworth’s time at Newcastle, and he is said to be an admirer still.
Having broken through at hometown club Blackburn Rovers, Wharton made his professional debut in August 2022.
From here, we witnessed a meteoric rise from relative unknown to one to watch – with some eye-catching performances in the Championship leading to a dream move to the Premier League.
The youngster’s notable form in the second half of last season resulted in a call-up to the England national team – making his senior debut and earning inclusion in the Three Lions squad for Euro 2024.
World-class potential
The Blackburn native is a holding midfielder by trade – and has shown a calmness and composure to his game that you would not expect from someone so young.
Left-footed and a smooth composer, the Lancashire lad is an intelligent footballer and has displayed great technical ability from a young age.
Furthermore, his distribution and remarkable passing range make him an ideal candidate to slot into Manchester United’s midfield and potentially operate in that deep-lying playmaker role.
However, the Old Trafford club would need to act swiftly if they choose to make any potential move – as domestic rivals Manchester City and German giants Bayern Munich are also big admirers and will likely be keen to acquire his services next summer.
A talent not to be missed out on
There is no denying that Palace will demand a high fee for their star man – with talks of anything between £80m and £100m valuations already being bandied about.
But, despite the formidable fee, this would represent a solid investment for any top side looking to improve their engine room.
The prospect of United adding Wharton to a midfield already containing the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Ugarte is a tantalizing one – and would offer so much more balance to a side that has often struggled in that area in recent years.
Whether or not the Reds make a move for the former England U21 player remains to be seen, but whispers are suggesting it could be on the cards next summer, and that would certainly make for an exciting possibility.
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