Man United make Adam Wharton a priority target ahead of summer midfield reshuffle | OneFootball

Manchester United have made Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton their primary target for next summer, according to The Mirror.

United preparing for another midfield reshuffle this summer and have been linked with a big-money move for the England international.

Midfield is an area that United have been looking to reinforce over the past couple of years.

Ruben Amorim’s side were linked with a number of midfielders last summer, with Atalanta’s Ederson and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba on their shortlist.

However, the Red Devils invested their entire summer budget in a brand new attacking line-up.

At the moment, it remains to be seen if they’ll address their midfield issues in January, but any big-money moves may have to wait until next summer.

Wharton is considered one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

He played a key role in Palace’s FA Cup success last season and has established himself as the backbone of Oliver Glasner’s set-up.

Wharton is an all-round midfielder who is excellent on and off the ball. But his ability to pick a pass is the hallmark of his game that has caught the eye of several big teams across Europe.

The 21-year-old has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season. He’s usually one of the first names on the team sheet, but has missed two Premier League games due to illness.

In his 10 Premier League appearances, Wharton has picked up an assist and created five big chances while averaging 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes.

United see Wharton as a perfect addition to the new identity Amorim wants to build at Old Trafford.

The midfielder is aware of United’s interest, but reports claim he will turn down a move to the Theatre of Dreams if Amorim’s side fail to qualify for the Champions League.

United have plummeted to 12th place in the Premier League table after failing to win any of their last three games (D2, L1).

Interestingly, they’ll face Palace on Sunday afternoon with just two points separating both sides.

A win for United will put them back in the top four race, but their record against Palace hardly inspires belief that they can get the job done.

United have failed to win any of their last four league games against Palace (D1, L3).

They’ve also failed to score in any of those games. In fact, the last United player to score against Palace was Anthony Martial in an EFL Cup third-round clash in September 2023.