Manchester United’s midfield remains under the spotlight as Ruben Amorim continues to refine his tactical setup.
While the Casemiro-Bruno Fernandes partnership looked decent against Arsenal, concerns persist over whether it offers the dynamism required in a high-intensity system.
The Portuguese coach ideally a mobile presence beside Fernandes.
Someone who can cover ground, dictate tempo, and progress play without hesitation.
With a move for Carlos Baleba appearing unlikely this summer due to gap in valuation, United turned their attention to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, whose been on Red Devils’ shortlist for months.
Over the weekend, scouts were sent to watch him against Chelsea, but an intriguing update suggests United may need to reassess.
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During a Sky Sports News broadcast from Palace’s Beckenham training base, Wharton appeared to send a clear message about his immediate future.
Reporter Gary Cotterill, standing close to Wharton and teammate Eberechi Eze, was asked if he would approach the midfielder over his situation.
He declined, but in that moment, Wharton lifted his training vest and pointed directly at the Palace badge, seemingly signalling his commitment to Selhurst Park.
The gesture prompted a smile from Eze and was interpreted as Adam Wharton making it clear he has no plans to depart this summer.
For United, who viewed the 21-year-old as an ideal Baleba alternative, this comes as a setback in their transfer strategy.
Amorim reportedly admired the idea of a Baleba-Wharton double pivot, something that would have provided the perfect blend of energy and technical control.
But with Wharton unlikely to move, United may need to accelerate efforts to identify another midfielder, with names such as Lucien Agoume still in the frame.
Eberechi Eze was amused by Gary Cotterill’s update for Sky Sports News during Crystal Palace’s training session 😆 pic.twitter.com/vDPe1ALNL9
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 20, 2025
