Manchester United will be in the market next summer for a new midfielder, and Rene Meulensteen already knows exactly who should be signed.
While the 2025 summer transfer window was impressive on paper, there was one glaring position not addressed by Ineos, and Ruben Amorim is paying the price.
Manchester United have looked impressive going forward this season, underperforming expected goals, but the creation and level of chances are much better than in previous seasons.
Despite this, the defence has been shaky with little trust in the goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, making for nervous performances all-round. The Turkish goalkeeper’s struggles make it baffling that United are yet to try new shot stopper Senne Lammens.
However, the most obvious major weakness within Amorim’s team is the midfield, which was an area that should have been bolstered during the summer. But if Rene Meulensteen had gotten his way, there would be a very talented number six running the show for United.
Rene Meulensteen says Adam Wharton should be a Manchester United player
Meulensteen was a United coach for 12 years under Sir Alex Ferguson, only leaving when David Moyes axed him, and so his opinion on players is worth noting.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy podcast with Sam Allardyce, Meulensteen revealed one player he would have signed for United long ago, that being Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
“I kept saying it, and I said it off-air before to you as well as I absolutely rate him so highly, and that’s one of the players that I would have brought into Manchester United directly. Adam Wharton. Honestly, to God”, Meulensteen explained.
“What I like about Wharton is, honestly, you look at him, you analyse him. His intention is always to play forward, and he’s a good ball retainer, but he knows when to put a bit of a bit of juice to his pass, you know, breaking the lines a little bit of disguise, you know. A phenomenal player, honestly.”
Meulensteen worked with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, so if he is this convinced on a midfielder, chances are he is the real deal.
United enquired to sign Wharton during the 2025 summer window; however, a deal never transpired, with the position pushed back to next summer, with £100m required to sign either of Ineos’ top targets.
Manchester United should be signing Adam Wharton over Carlos Baleba
Next summer already looks like it will see United go all in on signing a midfielder, with Carlos Baleba the early favourite.
However, Wharton has a gentleman’s agreement to leave Palace during the 2026 summer transfer window, and United would be insane not to take advantage of this, as he could arrive for less than his previously touted £100m price tag, while Baleba would be more expensive.
Baleba has had a slow start to the 2025/26 season, with Fabian Hurzeler admitting the noise around his transfer situation has played a part, which doesn’t bode well for the Cameroonian coping with the pressure at Old Trafford.
Wharton, on the other hand, has been linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool, and United, yet never lets it impact his game.
Either would be a big upgrade, but Wharton is our number one pick.
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