Manchester United are set to sign at least two midfielders in the summer transfer window and Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has been among those to be linked with the move.
Manchester United are expected to make midfield reinforcements their main focus this summer.
Casemiro is set to depart at the end of the season when his contract expires, concluding his four-year spell at Old Trafford.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Manuel Ugarte, who could move on amid reported frustration over limited playing time, particularly following Michael Carrick’s arrival.
Elliot Anderson has emerged as United’s primary transfer target, though the club remain interested in Carlos Baleba. They previously looked into signing Baleba last summer, but Brighton & Hove Albion were unwilling to sell.
Meanwhile, Sandro Tonali is also being considered, although the potential cost of a deal is believed to exceed what United are prepared to spend.
United hold reservations over Wharton
Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace is another option, and he has been admired by those at Old Trafford since his emergence at Blackburn Rovers.
Wharton, 22, is one player who checks the important boxes for United. He is a young talent with room to grow into an even better player, but is also proven in the Premier League already.
Fresh reports from The Telegraph have explained that the Palace midfielder has been 'heavily scouted' by those at United.
However, it is thought that Wharton is considered too similar to Kobbie Mainoo and would not be a natural partner for the academy graduate in the deeper midfield positions.
Mainoo has excelled since Michael Carrick arrived at Old Trafford and is expected to remain an important player going forwards. He is in talks to sign a new long-term deal at the club.
Wharton and Mainoo are both very talented, but some may argue that there is not enough physicality in a midfield with them. In possession, it would certainly be an interesting dynamic.
United must buy volume in midfield
United are going to splash the cash in midfield. To sign a top-level starter to play alongside Mainoo, they are going to need to pay upwards of £70 million.
It will perhaps be more interesting to see how the Reds deal with the depth issue in that department. They will have to be slightly smarter when it comes to that.
The recruitment department will certainly be eyeing some low-cost talent who could fill squad roles, while there could also be some youngsters from the academy who could take the step up.
Jim Thwaites and Tyler Fletcher have impressed Carrick behind the scenes in recent months and both have appeared in first-team squads.