Ruben Amorim told exactly why he should sign Adam Wharton as Man Utd get ‘green light’

Manchester United have been told to pull out all the stops to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, with the midfielder said to be the ideal replacement for Casemiro

Ruben Amorim has been advised that Adam Wharton would be an ideal addition for Manchester United. The Crystal Palace midfielder has been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford as United chiefs seek a long-term successor to Casemiro, whose deal runs out in June next year.

Wharton is broadly regarded as one of the Premier League’s most promising talents following his displays for Palace across the past two campaigns, including during their FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City at Wembley in May.

The 21-year-old made his England debut last year and is presently in high demand, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also reportedly keen on securing his signature. United have now been encouraged to pursue Wharton aggressively after being told he would be a vital component as the club attempts to reverse its declining fortunes.

Former Red Devils keeper Ben Foster issued the appeal after lavishing praise on Wharton for his outstanding showings for Palace in recent seasons. The ex-England and Wrexham stopper also criticised detractors who suggest he is overpriced.

Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, he said: “I think there’s always a lot said about Adam Wharton. I always read a lot of stuff saying, ‘God, he’s so overrated.’ I think you need to watch him for the eye test.

READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand responds to Sir Jim Ratcliffe after comparing Ruben Amorim to Man Utd rivalREAD MORE: Forgotten Man Utd flop’s role in Cape Verde’s historic World Cup qualification

“First and foremost, go to a game and watch him and see what he’s capable of. See how he moves around the pitch, how he operates and it’s a thing of beauty. It’s effortless. He glides around them, but he’s got legs as well.

“That’s the bit there that Man United are interested in. They’ve got nobody in there at the minute who’s got those legs, that can get about, has that vision of passing and that calmness and control when he’s got the ball.”

Wharton’s current contract with Selhurst Park is set to run until the summer of 2029, having initially joined the club from Blackburn Rovers for £18m back in February 2024. Despite recognising the player’s high ambitions, Palace chairman Steve Parish has insisted they’re not in a hurry to let their star midfielder go.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Parish said: “I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club.

“He’s an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can’t speak for Adam, but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace. He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had and that a lot of young players get.

“I think this season he’s completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday.

“It’s a difficult programme for us right now. I think he’s very committed to the club. I don’t know where all this stuff comes from.”

When quizzed about United’s reported interest, Parish added: “If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, there’s nothing surprising really about that. The fact of the matter is he’s got a long contract to run. There’s no pressure on us to do it, and I don’t think there’s any real pressure from the player either.”

Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.