- Manchester United interested in Adam Wharton
- Chelsea also interested in midfielder
- Blues looking to replace unhappy Enzo Fernandez
Manchester United could face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea for the signature of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
The Reds have had a long-standing interest in the 22 year-old, who joined Palace from Blackburn Rovers in 2024. United are looking to bolster their midfield as Casemiro will be leaving following his contract expiry this summer.
Wharton recently played for England in the friendly 1-1 draw against Uruguay for Thomas Tuchel’s side. He has a contract with The Eagles until 2029, and is expected to cost around £70m this summer. He has had a successful time at Selhurst Park, winning the Community Shield and FA Cup in 2025.
Chelsea Consider Wharton
According to the Daily Mail via Metro, Chelsea are now interested in bringing the 22 year-old to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are considering replacements in case Enzo Fernández leaves the club. The Argentinian cast doubts over his future after Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.
When asked about his future at Chelsea beyond the summer, Fernandez told ESPN: “I don’t know. Now I’m thinking here, after the World Cup comes and we’ll see later.”
Real Madrid are also said to be interested in the young Englishman. Although, they have also been linked to Fernandez themselves, and Manchester City’s Rodri.
Chelsea typically play in a 4-2-3-1 setup under Liam Rosenior, with Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo already providing defensive stability in the side. Wharton’s signature would enhance their midfield, utilising his ability to unlock defences with progressive passing.
The Palace man’s attributes are suited to being a defensive playmaker. He has spent much of this season playing next to Daichi Kamada in a holding position.
Former Man Utd Defender Calls for Wharton Signing
Speaking in an interview with Metro, former Manchester United defender Wes Brown highlighted that Wharton would be a ‘perfect’ partner for Kobbie Mainoo.
Brown had a decorated career at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two Champions League trophies. Just like Wharton, Brown had a short spell playing for Blackburn in 2016.
He said: “He [Wharton] would cost a lot of money but it will be tough for Crystal Palace to keep another of their top players. But that position does need filling. Him and Kobbie could be a great partnership.”
Brown raised some good points about Palace finding it hard to keep Wharton beyond this summer. Manager Oliver Glasner will be leaving the club when his contract expires, and key players such as Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze have left.
However, partnering Wharton with Mainoo has no balance. At a high fee of £70m, it would require United to sign an additional holding midfielder to make recovery runs, duel and intercept in ways that Casemiro has over the years. Other United targets such as Sandro Tonali, Eliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba provide a better balance at a similiar price.
