Manchester United ‘confident’ of signing £70m England star – on one condition

Manchester United are confident of winning the race to sign coveted Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton – on one condition.

Ruben Amorim is expected to sign a new midfielder in January or next summer and is a known admirer of Wharton.

Wharton has quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since his £22m move from Blackburn Rovers in 2024.

The 21-year-old’s impressive form helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup last season and climb into the European places this term.

Wharton’s form has also led to him receiving three England caps and be in contention for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Whether he is still a Crystal Palace player by then remains to be seen, with a number of top clubs lining up deals for an assured and technical midfielder.

Liverpool and Real Madrid have both been linked with moves but the Daily Mirror say Manchester United are ‘confident’ of winning the transfer race.

United’s next big signing will be a midfielder after Amorim failed to bolster his squad in that position in last summer’s transfer window.

Deals for Carlos Baleba and Wharton were explored but United decided to keep their powder dry after spending almost £200m on three attacking players – Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Amorim is said to view Wharton as an ‘ideal fit’ for his midfield at Old Trafford and will sanction United’s £70m move for the Palace star.

But it has been claimed that a deal for Wharton will rely on Manchester United qualifying for Europe, with the midfielder ready to snub the Red Devils if that fails to materalise.

United are without any European football this season after finishing 15th last term. While they are currently just 12th, they are only four points outside the Champions League places in a congested 2025-26 Premier League table.

Given the level of interest in Wharton, he can afford to be picky and intends to keep playing in Europe after Palace’s involvement in this season’s Conference League.

Manchester United will get another look at Wharton on Sunday when Amorim’s side travel to Selhurst Park, hoping to get back to winning ways following Monday’s 1-0 defeat to ten-man Everton.

Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Conor Gallagher have all also been linked with moves to Old Trafford – but Wharton appears to be Amorim’s favoured option.

Paul Scholes, one of United’s greatest midfielders, recently revealed he would sign Wharton ahead of Brighton’s Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Anderson.

‘I think all three of them are really good players,’ Scholes told Sky Sports. ‘Baleba is very young, but they’re all quite young, aren’t they?

‘But Baleba is very young. Quality-wise, is he quite there? I think he’s almost in a Caicedo type of way.

‘He’s done really well at Chelsea, don’t get me wrong, but is that the type of player Manchester United need? I’m not sure.

‘Adam Wharton is, again, a really good player. Can he get around the pitch? Old Trafford’s a big pitch. It’s a really big pitch to get around, and you need to have some physicality. You need to have legs in that position.

‘I’d say, going off the England form, this has surprised me more than anything is Elliot Anderson.

‘I really liked him when he was at Newcastle, but I thought he was more of an attacking player, maybe play the 8 or 10. I don’t like saying numbers, but he looks more of an 8 or 10.

‘He’s come into that role for England and looks very accomplished, very stylish. Keeps the ball really well, will pass it forward as well. I’d like to see all three of them.

‘I’d probably say I’d go Wharton. I still don’t think they’re any of the Manchester United style midfield players, they’re more the style of football these days.

‘I just think Wharton’s got a little bit more quality. That’s tough saying that. I think he’s got more quality than Baleba.

‘Baleba’s got more legs, so that evens itself out a little bit. It’s close between Elliot Anderson and Wharton. I’d just pick Wharton.’

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