Anderson vs Baleba vs Wharton: Man United fans pick priority target | OneFootball

Manchester United are prioritising an overhaul of Ruben Amorim’s midfield next year – an area of the pitch in desperate need of greater levels of energy off the ball and more quality on it.

The central pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes is the wrong side of 30, and their youthful alternatives, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, have failed to impress the Portuguese coach.

The bulk of the club’s budget is expected to be invested on one of the Premier League’s outstanding young midfielders – Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba or Adam Wharton – with all three under close consideration at Old Trafford.

But if The Peoples Person’s readers had it their way, there would only be one maestro the Red Devils sign, after he amassed over 60% of the vote on a poll for which target should be prioritised. Let’s meet the candidates.

The Candidates

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)

Anderson has emerged as one the Premier League’s best midfielders since signing for Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2024.

Combining inventiveness and industry in equal measure, the 23-year-old England international offers a complete skillset in the centre of the pitch, capable of dominating play, in and out of possession.

He boasts a borderline ridiculous selection of statistics this season, ranking amongst the division’s best for touches, forward passes, passes into the final third, possession won, duels won, and most take-ons completed.

For a midfielder to place first for any of these metrics would be worthy of consideration; to rank first for each one makes him a special player, the type every one of England’s elite will be desperate to add to their ranks come the summer.

Anderson’s performance against United last month showed the full array of his talents, dominating the midfield at times despite the experience and pedigree he faced in Casemiro and Fernandes.

Elliot Anderson vs Manchester United

United are joined in their admiration of Anderson by Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle. Forest’s asking price, believed to be at least £80 million, potentially climbing to £100m, will rule out a return to Tyneside, but will be manageable for all three clubs in the north west.

Whether Anderson will choose Old Trafford over Anfield or the Etihad, stadiums that have enjoyed far greater levels of success in recent years, is an entirely different proposition, however.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion) 

United made advances last summer to sign Baleba – Brighton 21-year-old midfield starlet – with Amorim believed to be a huge fan of the Cameroon international. The Seagulls refused to enter negotiations, however, with a sense that it would take a fee in the region of the £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo to bring them to the table.

United valued Baleba in the £60-70m range and, as a result, talks never progressed, despite the midfielder communicating his wish to swap the Amex for Old Trafford. Significant ground work has already been done, however, with the Red Devils expected to return to the south coast come the summer.

But would this be wise, given Baleba’s dramatic deterioration in form this season?

The Cameroonian’s head was clearly turned by United’s interest and his performances have suffered as a result – as his manager, Fabian Hurzeler, has publicly acknowledged. But if simply being linked with the red shirt causes you to implode, imagine what may happen once he is actually adored with the famous jersey, and the acute pressure which comes with wearing it.

Baleba’s profile – a high-energy midfielder with outstanding physicality, duel-winning abilities and dribbling,  capable of dominating transitions – is exactly what is needed at United. The club will need to decide whether he has the mentality to translate these talents to Old Trafford, or if he will be overawed in a manner many of his predecessors have been.

Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Crystal Palace and England’s midfield maestro, Wharton is undoubtedly the classiest player on this list.

Possessing a wand of a left foot with incisive first-time passing, he is a joy to watch when spraying the ball around the pitch at Selhurst Park.  Yeremy Pino, Palace’s Spanish summer signing from Villarreal, is adamant his teammate could play for the Spain national team – a testament to the technical quality Wharton demonstrates in abundance.

There are question marks over his physicality. He possesses neither the speed and strength of Baleba, nor the engine and relentless pressing of Anderson. But football is played between the ears as much as it is with the legs – and, here, Wharton is almost unrivalled amongst his Premier League peers.

The 21-year-old, who plays with the maturity of someone a decade older, would offer United a successor to Michael Carrick. And if he could be paired with a more physical partner in midfielder, could become one of the division’s standout stars – in any position.

Anderson Wins a Landslide

When asked which midfielder United should sign next summer, with the assumption they all cost broadly the same fee, readers of the The Peoples Person were comprehensive in their judgement.

Anderson won by a landslide, with 2229 of the 3716 votes – nearly 60% of the total. Wharton was next on the ballot, with 819 votes, while Baleba trailed behind with just 668.

Evidently, voters have recognised what the rest of the Premier League, and Three Lions bosss Thomas Tuchal, have come to realise this season: Anderson is the best midfielder in England, not already playing for one of England’s biggest clubs.

Both Wharton and Baleba, despite his struggles, are talented midfielders, with greater scope to improve given they are two youngers than their rival in Nottingham. In fact, the idea of playing either next to Anderson for United is a tantalising prospect – and would constitute the drastic overhaul needed in the centre of the pitch at Old Trafford.

But if there can only be one, the people (and this writer) are in a consensus. Welcome to the Theatre of Dreams, Mr Anderson.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social