Manchester United have been given a glowing endorsement of transfer target Adam Wharton by none other than Jack Grealish. The Everton winger was full of praise for the Crystal Palace midfielder, who is reportedly on United’s radar for a potential summer move. Ruben Amorim is believed to be considering a shake-up of his midfield options, with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo rumoured to be on their way out.
A bid of around £60million for Wharton could reportedly be in the pipeline after Amorim was impressed by the England international. Wharton, 21, made the switch to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024 for an initial fee of £18m. Since then, he has quickly established himself as a key player for the Eagles, helping them lift the FA Cup and secure a place in European competition earlier this year.
Despite a 2-1 defeat at Everton before the international break, Wharton’s performance did not go unnoticed. In fact, it earned him high praise from match-winner Grealish, who had some encouraging words for any clubs interested in signing the young star – including United.
Grealish, speaking unprompted, said: “Adam Wharton today… I can see the Man of the Match award there. I think that’s coming to me.
“But it should have gone to Adam Wharton, because in my opinion he was the best player on the pitch.”
After substantial investment in bolstering their attacking options, the Red Devils are now turning their attention to strengthening their midfield ranks.
Casemiro’s lucrative £300,000-per-week deal is set to run until the summer of 2026, though it’s believed United have no intention of activating their clause to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
Mainoo stands as one of the brightest talents to graduate from United’s academy in recent memory. However, Amorim has shown reluctance to deploy the 20-year-old sensation, who remains without a Premier League start this campaign.
Manuel Ugarte has similarly found opportunities limited despite his previous working relationship with Amorim during their time together at Sporting.
Mason Mount has recently found himself back in favour at Old Trafford, though the midfielder continues to battle persistent fitness concerns since arriving in Manchester.
Wharton found himself excluded from Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England selection for the upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia.
Yet, displaying maturity beyond his tender years, the midfield sensation responded with composure when questioned about his international snub.
“He 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,” said Wharton regarding his squad omission and any communication from Tuchel.
“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.”