Adam Wharton to Man United: Strengths, weaknesses and the honest transfer verdict
Manchester United will have to dive into the transfer market to find solutions to their midfield problems.
As part of our “Strengths, Weaknesses and Honest Transfer Verdict” series, we have already dissected the profiles of Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali.
The spotlight now turns to Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.
The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in the Premier League.
Since his move to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers, he has already racked up 84 appearances for Palace and will be on the transfer wishlist of several clubs.
Strengths
Wharton is a press-resistant midfielder who rarely looks flustered in possession. The Englishman possesses a natural calmness on the ball, often appearing to have an extra second to pick out the right pass.
While goals have eluded him so far, he has contributed five assists in 27 league appearances this season. That return marks the most productive campaign of his senior career to date.
He currently ranks fourth in the league for big chances created (11), trailing only Bruno Fernandes (24), Rayan Cherki (15) and Declan Rice (14).
As a left-footed midfielder, he also offers a different dimension in build-up play, particularly with his passing angles from deeper areas.
Weaknesses
Data from DataMB highlights that Wharton outperforms Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro in key areas such as progressive passing and chance creation. However, there are still notable gaps in his overall game.
At 22, it would be unrealistic to expect a completely polished midfielder.
Despite having a slight height advantage, Wharton does not particularly excel in aerial duels. He has a lot of room for improvement.
Wharton tends to operate as a distributor, collecting the ball from defenders and moving it forward efficiently. Unlike Mainoo, he is less inclined to carry the ball through midfield with driving runs.
This stylistic overlap could pose a tactical dilemma if United opt to pair him alongside Mainoo.
Both players are still developing their defensive instincts, particularly when it comes to winning back possession.
Similarly, neither is known for explosive athleticism or lung-bursting runs across the pitch.
Deploying them together at the base of midfield could leave United vulnerable against physically dominant or high-tempo opponents.
Honest transfer verdict
Marc Guehi has already departed the Eagles, while Jean-Philippe Mateta is also expected to move on this summer.
Their head coach Oliver Glasner has already announced that he will leave at the end of the season. With potential upheaval at the club, Palace are likely to demand a significant fee for Wharton.
From United’s perspective, signing Wharton would represent smart long-term business. He could provide healthy competition for Mainoo and even partner him effectively against deep-lying opponents.
However, he is not an ideal replacement for Casemiro.
The Red Devils must first focus on a powerful number six midfielder before turning their attention and financial powers towards Wharton.
Stats from Fotmob.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .