Manchester United are unlikely to sign Adam Wharton in January, as Crystal Palace will likely block his move
Manchester United have been looking for a quality fix in their midfield, which has been the cause of trouble for the team of late. The Red Devils have struggled with a compact structure due to the absence of a quality defensive midfielder in his prime. They signed Manuel Ugarte with a lot of hope in 2024, but the Uruguayan has not settled in the team with Casemiro already at the fag end of his career.
Alongside him, Kobbie Mainoo has impressed with calmness and smooth ball progression. He has shown maturity even at this age, but Ruben Amorim has not trusted him in the defensive midfield role. United still lean on Bruno Fernandes in deeper areas, which restricts his creative freedom and exposes his defensive weaknesses. United need a genuine specialist, and earlier reports revealed that Manchester United want to prepare a January move for Adam Wharton. This shows that the club is still searching for long-term stability.
The Wharton situation
The situation surrounding Adam Wharton has become one of the most discussed stories in recent weeks. Journalist Pete O’Rourke told the Football Insider podcast that Crystal Palace would almost certainly reject offers for him in January. They don’t want to lose such an influential player. Wharton joined Palace in February 2024, and he has a contract until 2029. So, if any club wants to sign him, they have to offer an enormous bid.
O’Rourke stressed that Palace’s stance has precedent. He reminded listeners that Liverpool tried to secure Marc Guehi, only for Palace to shut down talks. Moreover, earlier reports reveal that Wharton wants to join Liverpool, which makes United’s hopes more complicated. As Liverpool are the defending champion, the lure of Anfield may impact heavily on the midfielder’s mind.
“It’ll be highly unlikely that Palace would entertain any offers for Wharton in January.
“He’s a top player, so if he does become available, it won’t just be Liverpool in the market for him; it’ll be most of the big clubs in the Premier League and top European clubs.
“He’s under a long-term contract at Palace until 2029, and it would take a huge fee to prise him away.
“We know how difficult Palace are to deal with. Liverpool found that out when they tried to sign Marc Guehi before Palace pulled the plug on that deal.
“They don’t want to lose Wharton, especially not in January because he would be a very difficult player for them to replace, so they’ll be doing everything they can to keep hold of him.
“We know January is a difficult window to do big deals as well, so I don’t see anything happening in January.”
Why United Must Still Push?
From a United fan’s perspective, the situation is frustrating yet still worth pursuing. Crystal Palace have every reason to hold their ground, as Wharton has already grown into one of their most important figures. Losing him midway through a season in which Palace aspire to compete for European football would weaken their ambitions, and that explains the high valuation that ranges between £60 million and £100 million.
Yet United know this type of player does not become available often, and Wharton’s composure in possession could transform the tempo of the side. The 21-year-old’s ability to dictate games from deep areas and relieve pressure on the defence would allow Fernandes to operate further forward.
However, many fear that the Englishman may view Liverpool as a more attractive option, especially with the pull of joining a title-winning squad. While that reality might sway him, United cannot afford to back away quietly. Even in the face of Palace’s resistance, pushing hard for Wharton signals ambition, because without such a midfielder, United will continue to struggle for balance and quality in an area where they continue to suffer.