Manchester United endured a memorable week under manager Michael Carrick, with the interim manager making an immediate impact in his role at Old Trafford.
He led his team to a home derby victory in Manchester last Saturday before suffering their first home Premier League defeat of the season to leaders Arsenal.
It’s certainly early days in his tenure as manager, but the 44-year-old has definitely done no harm in increasing the chances of a permanent appointment in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether he is willing to take over long-term, but it is clear from the first two games that he can get the best out of the players at his disposal.
However, with a number of players currently looking to join the Red Devils, the bosses could be looking to support Carrick in his quest following recent wins.
The central midfield department is an area United have been looking to improve in recent months, and Nottingham Forest star Elliott Anderson is just one of the players they are targeting.
The Red Devils have previously held talks with Sean Dyche’s side and are currently demanding a transfer fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the 23-year-old, who is the only player to have played every minute in the league this season.
However, a battle for his signature appears to be on the horizon, with rivals Manchester City also keen to sign him.
Anderson isn’t the only player they have in their sights at the moment, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton also apparently a big fan of the club.
According to TEAMtalk, Carrick’s side are already in contact with Oliver Glasner’s side regarding the signing of the 21-year-old, who is one of the hottest names in the division.
The report also states that rivals Liverpool are also very keen on signing him and, like Anderson, could lead to a major battle for him in the near future.
He added that a deal is likely to be finalized in the summer, with a transfer fee currently being mooted at around £65m to £80m, but that could change in the coming weeks.
Why Wharton is United’s best signing since Bruno
United are spending huge sums of money in a bid to regain their former glory, spending more than £800m on new players from the summer of 2022 alone.
Bruno Fernandes has been a key part of the Red Devils’ efforts in recent years, with no new signings displacing the 31-year-old as a regular starter.
The Portugal international arrived for £47m in the winter of 2020, but few fans could have predicted he would make a huge impact on the first team.
He has now made 312 appearances for the club, scoring 103 goals and providing 94 assists for his team-mates, but no player has achieved more during this period.
Fernandes, the club’s captain, has contributed 11 goals in the last nine games, showing his importance to the current team.
However, if Wharton were to leave, it could be the best signing since Bruno, and the Englishman would surely become a fan favorite at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old has impressed during the 2025/26 season and his arrival could finally fill the hole created in the center of the park in recent months.
Referred to as “phenomenal” by content production company HLTCO, Wharton has created 1.4 chances per 90 and completed 5.5 progressive passes per 90 this season.
Adam Wharton – PL statistics (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | twenty one |
goals and assists | 2 |
Pass accuracy | 81% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.4 |
progressive path | 5.5 |
The tackle I made | 2.7 |
Dribbling completed | 50% |
Number of intercepts | 1.1 |
Statistics by FotMob | |
Figures like this prove his outstanding ability in possession, and his numbers could provide the ball-playing flair that has been lacking in the United squad in recent months.
He also completes 50% of his attempted dribbles and 2.5 out of 90 passes are accurate long balls, making him the perfect option in possession.
But without the ball, the youngster was equally impressive and has gone on to become a proven box-to-box option in the Premier League despite his young age.
He makes 2.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per 90, both figures highlighting Carrick’s impressive ability to win the ball back at the base of Carrick’s midfield.
£65 million is another huge investment from the organization, but could turn out to be a bargain if Wharton maintains his current trajectory and reaches his full potential.
It could also see Bruno remain in the number 10 position at Old Trafford, a role that is arguably his best, as evidenced by recent wins over Manchester City and Arsenal.
However, given the interest from other countries, Wharton could be the club’s best addition since the Portuguese international, and leaders will need to act quickly to secure his availability.
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