Ruben Amorim may be fighting to save his job at Old Trafford but the Manchester United boss is nevertheless still planning for the future and even drawing up plans for the next two transfer windows.
A dismal start to the season, which included an embarrassing cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town, has led to intense speculation over Amorim’s future as United boss.
A crucial victory over newly-promoted Sunderland before the international break may have bought Amorim more time but a number of fans and pundits believe the writing is already on the wall for the ex-Sporting manager.
Amorim has insisted he is ‘not concerned’ about his future in the job and that appears to be the case as he has already started working on transfer plans for the next two windows.
The priority area for Amorim is in midfield after Manchester United considered but ultimately failed to bolster his squad in that area last summer.
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United expressed interest in signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton but baulked at the Seagulls’ asking price which stood at over £100m.
The Red Devils fear Brighton, often hailed for their work in the transfer market, are unlikely to budge on those demands so have turned their attentions to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
The Daily Star say Amorim is a ‘huge fan’ of Wharton and has instructed his bosses at Old Trafford to secure his signature.
Wharton, 21, has been an integral player at Palace over the past three seasons, helping the Eagles win the FA Cup back in May and qualify for Europe.
The dynamic midfielder has only earned one England cap to date but a number of pundits are desperate for him to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Wharton has previously been valued at around £100m but it is claimed United believe a bid in the region of £60m would be enough to strike a deal with Crystal Palace.
Midfield continues to be a problem position for Manchester United and the report adds that both Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to leave next summer.
Casemiro will be 34 by the end of the season and is well past his best, while Mainoo has previously tried to leave the Theatre of Dreams as his game-time has dried up under Amorim.
After being left out of Tuchel’s latest England squad, Wharton insisted he would ‘keep knocking on the door’ and do all he can to boost his chances of going to the World Cup in America next summer.
‘He [Tuchel] just gave me a message saying I’m playing well, I’m close and I deserve to be there but he’s going to stick with the same team,’ Wharton said.
‘That’s football, I’m not too fussed about that. I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it’s not the end of the world as there’s another camp next month.
‘My focus is on Palace and if that goes well then England is just a bonus. Nothing is expected because England have some top players and he’s got a lot of players to choose from.
‘No matter who he picks someone is not going to get in and there will be a fuss about it. I can’t sit here and cry about it, this is football and I’m happy playing for Palace and getting minutes.
‘I’ll keep knocking on the door and if I’m in, I’m in and if not I’ll carry on.’
Wharton has already attracted plenty of praise from fellow England players, with Declan Rice labelling him ‘top level’ ahead of Euro 2024.
Eberechi Eze, who played with Wharton before his £60m summer move to Arsenal, described him as an ‘incredible player’.
‘He’s an incredible player to play with,’ said Eze. ‘Playing with him at Palace, I got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him.
‘He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise.
‘When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.’
Manchester United are not the only big club to express interest in Wharton, with the Three Lions midfielder also attracting attention from Liverpool and Real Madrid.
It was reported last week that Madrid were keen to bring Wharton to the Bernabeu but were reluctant to pay more than £55m.
Amorim’s United return to Premier League action next Sunday with a daunting trip to champions and fierce rivals Liverpool.
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