Exclusive: Man Utd told to sign ‘phenomenal’ £200m Premier League duo | OneFootball

Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe explained why the club should go after Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson this summer.

The Red Devils are expected to sign at least two new midfielders. Man Utd’s next permanent coach (whether it’s Michael Carrick or not) will need at least four first-team players in the middle of the park, especially with the club expected to return to Europe next season.

With Bruno Fernandes returning to his original role behind the striker in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and Casemiro announcing his departure at the end of the season, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are the only remaining options, and the latter’s future isn’t even certain.

Lee Sharpe urges Man Utd to sign Anderson & Wharton

For months, circulating reports have been linking Man Utd with a host of midfielders from the Premier League and beyond.

Many sources have identified Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as the primary target on Jason Wilcox’s shortlist, while Crystal Palace’s rising star Adam Wharton is another popular name with the MUFC hierarchy.

(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Last summer, Carlos Baleba was the main objective, but United were repelled by Brighton’s hefty price tag, which reportedly reached £115 million.

Nevertheless, Sharpe argues in favour of Wharton and Anderson, while reckoning that Baleba’s dip in form has hurt his chances.

“I really like Wharton, and he has played in that deep role for a while,” said the former United star in his exclusive interview with Stretty News in collaboration with BetBrain.

“Baleba is another option. You just need someone with a little bit of a defensive responsibility, but also someone who sees the game quickly to go forward for counter-attacks and, you know, all three of them (Baleba, Wharton and Anderson) do that.

“I know Baleba has had a bit of a tougher season this year. Maybe the United link at the start of the season has distracted him a little bit, but I’d probably take the two English lads,” added Sharpe.

“I think they would understand the dressing room, and both of them have been phenomenal.”

Can United afford to sign Adam Wharton & Elliot Anderson in the same summer?

Many fans would argue with Sharpe’s assessment. After all, Wharton is a natural deep-lying playmaker, while Anderson is a box-to-box midfielder who would offer an alternative option to Mainoo in the No.8 role.

However, INEOS need a sizable investment to secure both players in one transfer campaign, as each of them has been valued at circa £100 million by his own club.

Wilcox and Co. will be hoping to drive the prices down through negotiations, but securing the double coup remains a challenging task for the hierarchy, who could instead opt for one big-money signing in midfield, in addition to a cheaper alternative, possibly from abroad.