Manchester United have joined the race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, according to a report from CaughtOffside.
Wharton came through the academy ranks at Blackburn Rovers, where he made 51 appearances before catching the eye of top-flight clubs.
Crystal Palace secured his signature in January 2024, and the midfielder has since developed into one of the Premier League’s most impressive central players.
The 22-year-old has been pivotal to Palace’s recent success, starting the FA Cup Final, FA Community Shield, and the UEFA Conference League Final as the club completed a historic treble.
That level of consistency across two and a half seasons has made Wharton one of the most coveted midfielders in English football heading into this transfer window.
Manchester United’s interest stems partly from necessity, with Casemiro’s departure and an injury to Manu Ugarte creating an urgent need for midfield reinforcement, despite already signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Michael Carrick’s side are now actively pursuing a deal for Wharton, though Crystal Palace’s £85m asking price has complicated and stalled negotiations at this stage.
United are not alone in their pursuit, with Chelsea having already opened talks with Palace over the player, who is reported to be Xabi Alonso’s primary transfer target this window.
Real Madrid are also closely monitoring the England international, making this a fiercely contested three-way battle for one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.
Wharton’s passing ability has been described as “magnificent” by football talent scout Jacek Kukig, underlining the widespread admiration he has earned across the game.
United’s preseason has offered encouraging signs under Carrick, with a 1-1 draw against PSG and a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid suggesting the Red Devils are building something with real momentum.
Adding a player of Wharton’s quality to that setup would strengthen their ball retention, on-pitch cohesion, and overall control in the middle of the park considerably.
Given the fees midfielders have commanded across the market this summer, £85m for a 22-year-old with his best years ahead represents a significant but potentially shrewd investment.