Adam Wharton is on Manchester United’s shortlist for the summer transfer window, with Manchester United looking to sign a new midfielder to complement Koby Mainu.
Adam Wharton tipped off with partner Koby Mainu (Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Manchester United are unlikely to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, but there are concerns he looks too much like Koby Mainu. Wharton, 22, is one of several midfielders on United’s shortlist to replace the departing Casemiro.
The former Blackburn Rovers youngster helped Palace win the FA Cup last season and is likely to represent England at the World Cup this summer. Manchester City and Liverpool are also interested in signing Wharton, who is thought to be worth around £70m.
Mainou has become the mainstay of a two-man midfield alongside Casemiro since United appointed Michael Carrick, who is now increasingly likely to be a permanent signing. The pair compliment each other well and United’s ambition is to sign a midfielder as compatible as Brazilian Mainu.
But Mr Wharton’s profile is thought to be too similar to Mr Mainu’s, according to the Telegraph. Other targets, namely Elliott Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Aurelien Choameni, all look more like Casemiro than the Palace midfielder.
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However, there is still a world in which United could try to sign Wharton. The Red Devils could be looking to sign a number of midfielders this summer, although it depends on the future of Manuel Ugarte, who has started just one game under Carrick.
Qualifying for the Champions League would significantly strengthen United’s budget and give them more freedom to spend. They signed four players last summer but chose to ignore midfield.
When Mainu was injured in last Monday’s game against Leeds, it seemed no coincidence that United performed poorly and ended up losing 2-1. Coach Carrick’s team struggled to advance the ball from deep, a quality that both Mynoux and Wharton have in abundance.
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Adam Wharton and Koby Mainu are good friends (Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
What could help any club looking to sign Wharton is the uncertainty surrounding Palace’s financial situation. Oliver Glassner is scheduled to retire when his contract expires in June, but the Eagles have not yet decided on a replacement.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is also set to retire. Wharton was injured in Palace’s 0-0 draw with West Ham on Monday, but is expected to return this Saturday away to Liverpool.
“He should be back. It was more or less a precaution, but (he) showed a little bit of clinical symptoms,” Glasner said. “We hope he will be back in training on Thursday when we start preparing for the game against Liverpool and he should be available.”
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