Manchester United’s much-hyped midfield revamp in the summer has failed to deliver as expected.
INEOS initially had their eyes on Atalanta’s Ederson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, both of whom chose Tottenham Hotspur, and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid.
After missing out on each of their top targets, the Red Devils ended up signing Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba.
All three have struggled this season and there are already talks of the 20-time English league champions looking to fix things by signing yet another midfielder next summer.
Adam Wharton back on United’s radar
One Premier League superstar on United’s radar for a long time is Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace. United opted against going after the 22-year-old due to his playing style being similar to Kobbie Mainoo.
The England international has not produced his usual magic this season, and his asking price has dropped as a result,
That has not stopped admirers from monitoring his situation, with Football Insider revealing that the former Blackburn Rovers ace is expected to leave Selhurst Park next summer.
“Adam Wharton is still likely to leave Crystal Palace next summer despite his downturn in performances, sources have told Football Insider.
Adam Wharton keen to leave next summer
“There are no major concerns about Wharton’s form and his suitors are still very much keen.”
United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all keen while Real Madrid and Manchester City were interested last summer and it remains to be seen if they return for Adam Wharton next year.
The “outstanding” midfield maestro blends defensive steel with cutting-edge passing from deep, and would complement Baleba’s physical industry in the middle of the park.
However, whether INEOS will engage in a bidding war remains to be seen. United are short on quality at the back and up top, and that is expected to be the co-owners’ immediate priority in the market.
The Peoples Person Reliability AssessmentOverall credibility: 6/10
Why?
United’s summer signings have struggled. Wharton has been a long-term target for United.
Football Insider is not known for their accurate reportage.
INEOS will be reluctant to spend big on another midfielder.
TPP view
We believe that Adam Wharton is likely to leave Palace next summer but United are far behind in the pecking order of his suitors.
Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
