Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reported to be prioritizing the signing of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton over Brighton & Hove Albion ace Carlos Baleva. The Red Devils’ manager is known to be keen on strengthening his midfield, which is currently in a slump. United were rumored to be interested in signing Baleva in the summer transfer window, but a deal never materialized as most of their budget was spent on strengthening their attack.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom confirmed their interest in the Cameroon international, but talks with United failed to progress beyond initial contact. The Seagulls are reported to be asking for a transfer fee of around £115m, similar to Moises Caicedo’s deal with Chelsea, if they decide to sell him. Despite his high price tag, Baleva remains linked with a move to Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window.
United are also keeping an eye on other midfielders, including Wharton. The England international appears to have come ahead of Baleva on United’s transfer list, according to reports.
According to i, Amorim is a big fan of Wharton, especially his ability to initiate attacks with his forward passes. Baleva’s erratic start to the season with Brighton has reportedly caused concern at Old Trafford.
Brighton are still expected to demand a fee of more than £100m for Baleva, but it is thought Wharton could be available for less. However, Palace’s exact asking price remains unclear.
They want to secure a replacement before they get the money, so a summer deal is more likely than a January deal. It is also reported that United are willing to wait until they bring the right player to the club.
The decision between Wharton and Baleva is likely to be made by United in the transfer window, either in January or next summer.
Their position appears to have changed from just a few months ago, with Wharton now emerging as a priority target over their Premier League rivals.
