- Manchester United curb off interest in Wharton
- English midfielder too similar to Kobbie Mainoo
- Sandro Tonali is also a doubt
Manchester United are reportedly cooling their interest in Adam Wharton, with the Crystal Palace midfielder viewed as too similar in profile to youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
The Englishman has long sat on United’s shortlist, but the club now appear to be stepping away from that pursuit. United will look to reshape their midfield this summer, with Casemiro set to leave when his contract expires on June 30.
Manuel Ugarte could also depart, with interest building from clubs across the Premier League and Europe. As a result, INEOS have started to look elsewhere as they attempt to build a midfield capable of competing for a league title.
Wharton Off the Cards?
Ben Jacobs gave an update on United’s interest in Wharton, who has impressed throughout his time at Palace. The English journalist suggested to The United Stand that the young Englishman might not be on the club’s radar:
“Manchester United are not keen on signing Tonali due to his high fee and wages, feeling he wouldn’t represent value for money. Also, Adam Wharton could be ruled out, with the club viewing him as too similar in profile to Kobbie Mainoo.”
With Wharton now unlikely and Tonali priced out, the list of realistic options narrows quickly. There are, of course, higher-risk profiles like Kees Smit and Nathan De Cat, but if United want to compete for major honours, they need proven quality anchoring the midfield.
That shift points them towards Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba. Anderson would represent the statement signing. Manchester City and Bayern Munich both track him closely, and any deal would likely push beyond £100 million.
Baleba offers another route. Despite an underwhelming campaign, his breakout 2024/25 season showed his ceiling. Brighton still want north of £80 million, but United could look to negotiate that figure down.
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The issue with pairing Wharton and Mainoo comes down to balance. You cannot play both without a true midfield enforcer behind them.
In an era of set-pieces and long balls, Wharton needs an escort. He wins just 47 per cent of his aerial duels, a figure that raises concern when partnering him with Mainoo, who wins only 38 per cent.
Putting those two together as the starting holding midfielders of a Premier League match will invite pressure, as taller, more athletic midfielders smell blood.
Under Ruben Amorim, you could have imagined a setup where Wharton fit into the system. But not alongside Mainoo.
Instead, United would need a presence—someone like James Garner or Mateus Fernandes—to provide that physical edge.
Mainoo, though, has surged under Michael Carrick, and right now, he looks like a player United will build around. The hesitance makes sense behind the idea of not bringing Wharton to Old Trafford.
Whilst there is no doubt the tenacious midfielder would be excellent in the United side, you would simply have to drop Mainoo to the bench.
Not only would fans be disgusted at their young academy player being dropped once again, but it would stop the development of a midfielder who could go on to be one of the all-time greats for Manchester United.
