Manchester United have undergone significant midfield upheaval this summer, with several major changes already reshaping the engine room at Old Trafford.
Casemiro’s departure has been confirmed, with the Brazilian joining Lionel Messi and company at Inter Miami following the end of his time at the club.
United had already identified midfield reinforcement as a priority before Casemiro left, but his exit made it an even more pressing concern heading into the window.
The Red Devils pursued Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes as potential targets but were ultimately priced out of moves for both players.
In response, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club’s hierarchy moved shrewdly, securing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans on cut-price deals that look like genuine bargains in the current market.
When Tielemans signed, director of football Jason Wilcox said: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years.”
Securing him for just £35m represents remarkable business, with Aston Villa losing a genuine leader and figurehead from their midfield in the process.
Tielemans showed his quality on debut against PSG, completing all 21 of his passes and making five recoveries across just 26 minutes after coming on as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw.
One crisp pass into the path of skipper Bruno Fernandes caught the eye, offering a glimpse of what manager Michael Carrick can expect from his new signing going forward.
Despite the positive early signs, questions remain about United’s midfield depth, with Kobbie Mainoo still developing and Santos unproven at Premier League level.
United have not yet signed a genuine defensive or deep-lying midfielder to replace Casemiro, leaving a specific positional gap that still needs addressing before the window closes.
According to Caught Offside, the Red Devils remain very keen on Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, though it is believed it could cost as much as £85m to prise him away from Selhurst Park.
That is the same figure United found prohibitive when pursuing a midfielder who ultimately moved to Tottenham Hotspur, raising questions about whether the club will commit to such a fee again.
Wharton has previously been described as “the best deep-lying English midfielder since Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick” by one CONCACAF B certified coach, underlining the esteem in which he is held.
His per-90 statistics from last season closely mirror those of Tielemans, with both players recording 1.6 chances created per 90 minutes, 0.2 assists, and similar tackle and interception rates throughout the campaign.
Wharton’s ball recovery rate of 5.8 per 90 minutes surpasses Tielemans’ 4.6, while his 4.99 progressive passes per 90 outpaces the Belgian’s 3.96, highlighting his strength in advancing play.
Pairing the two together would give Carrick a midfield combination with complementary strengths in possession retention, pressing and deep-lying playmaking.
With Tielemans, Mainoo and Fernandes already offering composure and creativity, adding Wharton would give United arguably the most complete midfield unit the club has assembled in several years.
The £85m price tag remains a significant obstacle, but the quality and age profile of Wharton make him one of the most coveted midfielders in the Premier League right now.