Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has issued a stark warning to his old club, labelling a potential £100million move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as an 'extremely dangerous' transfer gamble.
Saha's Stern Transfer Warning
The caution from the ex-United forward comes at a time when the Red Devils appear to be finding their footing under new manager Ruben Amorim. The team extended their unbeaten run to five matches following a 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Saturday.
A more coherent transfer strategy is beginning to yield positive results, with summer signings Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo all making significant recent contributions. However, the core of Amorim's midfield remains a work in progress, and the club is expected to heavily invest in that area over the next two transfer windows.
Midfield Overhaul and Mainoo's Situation
The current midfield dynamics have seen Manue Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo reduced to peripheral roles. Mainoo, in particular, has managed just eight appearances this season, with his only start coming in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. This has led to speculation of renewed interest from Napoli in the January window.
Meanwhile, the established partnership of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes faces an uncertain long-term future at Old Trafford, pushing the club to actively scout for successors. While Brighton's Carlos Baleba is a firm target, England international Adam Wharton is also highly regarded by the United hierarchy.
Speaking to OLBG, Saha expressed his deep concerns about a mega-money move for the young Palace star. 'It's a possibility that Man Utd could sign Adam Wharton for £100 million next summer,' Saha stated. 'I think Adam Wharton is a young lad. I do think that sometimes you have to be careful with those big signings.'
He elaborated on the perils of the modern market, saying, 'I consider this new market to be extremely dangerous for clubs because you can see the hype that goes up and then you're left surprised. It took a bit of time for Moises Caicedo to settle at Chelsea as well, so there are big signings and sometimes the expectations are too high.'
Sympathy for Mainoo and Future Prospects
Saha also addressed the challenging situation facing Kobbie Mainoo, offering a blend of sympathy and constructive criticism. 'Kobbie Mainoo needs to believe and show confidence,' he advised. 'He has been challenged physically, I think, more than technically. The rhythm in his game needs to improve. This is the only thing I see because otherwise, football-wise, his brain is very sharp.'
He emphasised that Mainoo must 'engage more, to create more, and definitely show aggressiveness,' noting that these are demands placed on every player at the club. 'He's been challenged and I think he's got competition. I think sometimes they are not fair but I think it's good for him,' Saha concluded, acknowledging the tough but necessary environment for a young player's development.
As United continue their rebuild under Amorim, the club's decision-makers now face a critical choice: heed the experienced warning of a club legend or gamble on a record-breaking transfer for one of England's most promising talents.
