Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Wes Brown have both expressed surprise at the club's apparent decision to cool their interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with Scholes describing the 22-year-old England international as 'perfect' for the Red Devils.
Central midfield was identified as United's primary area of focus entering this year's transfer window, following a £200million spending spree on their attack 12 months ago. That overhaul has seen a host of high-profile names linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, including Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Wharton.
However, Anderson completed a club-record £116m move to bitter rivals Manchester City, while Tonali and Fernandes snubbed United to join Tottenham for a combined fee of around £185m. Wharton, meanwhile, looks set to remain at Selhurst Park, with Crystal Palace reluctant to lose such a key player ahead of the new season.
Scholes: 'I can't believe United are not trying to buy Wharton'
'I can't believe Manchester United are not trying to buy Adam Wharton,' Scholes said on a recent episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football, sponsored by Midnite. 'I think I've said on here before that Sandro Tonali would have been my first choice. But obviously with him gone now, Adam Wharton looks perfect for me.'
Reports earlier this summer indicated Palace were demanding a fee in the region of £80-100million for Wharton, which may explain why United have seemingly dropped their interest. But Scholes' former teammate Brown believes the midfielder would be a 'brilliant buy' if the Red Devils can negotiate a lower price.
Brown: 'He's a player with great quality'
'I still think he's a player with great quality,' Brown told Oddschecker's Transfer Timer show. 'He gets the ball, he can pass forward, he can tackle, he's young and if you can get him at the right price I think he'd be a brilliant buy.'
Brown added: 'If you got him at the right price, definitely pay. But if it was too much, I'm talking over £80million then pass.'
Wharton has made 96 appearances in all competitions for Palace since arriving from boyhood side Blackburn Rovers in 2024. He has played an instrumental role in an historic period of success at Selhurst Park, helping the club win the FA Cup, the Europa Conference League and the Community Shield under Oliver Glasner. His current contract with the Eagles is not due to expire until June 2029.
United's midfield options and deadline day prospects
United did successfully strengthen their midfield options last month by bringing in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively. It remains to be seen if Old Trafford bosses will look to further bolster Michael Carrick's engine room before the transfer deadline on September 1.
The club's failure to land their primary targets has left fans questioning the direction of the transfer strategy, but the additions of Santos and Tielemans provide some reassurance. Whether United will make a late move for Wharton or another midfielder before the deadline remains uncertain, but the opinions of Scholes and Brown highlight the ongoing debate over the club's recruitment approach.
