Manchester United Urged to Sign Crystal Palace Star Adam Wharton by Former Coach Rene Meulensteen
With Casemiro departed and Manuel Ugarte injured, the Red Devils are advised to target the £60m-rated midfielder to bolster their Champions League squad.
Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has urged his former club to secure the signature of Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, as the Red Devils look to bolster their midfield ahead of a demanding Champions League campaign.
Following the departure of Brazilian international Casemiro as a free agent and a serious knee injury to Manuel Ugarte, reinforcing the engine room became a top priority for the 20-time English champions this summer.
The club’s recruitment drive has seen mixed fortunes. After failing to afford primary targets Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes due to financial constraints, United pivoted to secure the signings of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. However, with the club returning to Europe’s elite competition, club chiefs reportedly want at least another midfielder to navigate next season’s grueling fixture schedule.
Speaking in a recent interview via TEAMtalk, Meulensteen—who served as a key tactician under Sir Alex Ferguson during one of Old Trafford’s most decorated eras—expressed his admiration for technically gifted midfielders. He earmarked Wharton as the ideal candidate to solve United’s midfield puzzle.
The 22-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a meteoric rise since swapping Blackburn Rovers for Selhurst Park. During his time in the top flight, Wharton has showcased his qualities, winning an FA Cup, Conference League, and Community Shield. A left-footed deep-lying playmaker by trait, he is equally comfortable operating in a box-to-box role. His tactical profile includes an ability to play threading passes between the lines, set-piece efficiency, and reliable defensive contributions.
Despite his proven Premier League pedigree, top-tier English rivals including Tottenham, Manchester City, and Arsenal have all focused on midfield reinforcements this summer while showing a surprising reluctance to make a formal move for Wharton. Crystal Palace remains in a commanding negotiating position, with the player’s contract running until 2029. Transfermarkt currently values the midfielder at approximately £60 million, meaning the South London club can demand a premium fee should they decide to cash in.
Whether Manchester United will act on Meulensteen’s recommendation remains to be seen, but acquiring the highly talented Englishman would represent a shrewd piece of business for a club aiming to re-establish itself at the pinnacle of European football.
