Manchester United face a decisive summer transfer window, but their ability to sign top targets Elliott Anderson and Adam Wharton appears to depend entirely on Champions League qualification.
According to a recent report in The Sun, the Red Devils could cost the England squad a move if they fail to secure a top-four finish.
United have long identified both players as ideal successors to the departing Casemiro, but financial and competitive hurdles have been raised.
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Manchester United battle for top-four finish
The competition in European football is heating up after Manchester United lost 2-1 to Newcastle United for the first time under caretaker manager Michael Carrick.
Despite the setback, United remain third in the Premier League with 51 points and are currently ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.
However, there is no margin of error. Chelsea and Liverpool sit just three points apart on 48 points each, and their future matches against top-four contenders will be crucial.
The cost of failure for United will also be felt off the pitch, according to reports. Well-informed sources suggest that without revenue from Europe’s elite competition, Manchester City will be unable to match the salary worth close to £90m offered for Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson.
Manchester United’s midfield reinforcements are a priority
United’s pursuit of Wharton and Anderson highlights a clear historical problem at Old Trafford.
The club has made engine room space an absolute priority ahead of this summer, and this is a necessary move considering they have only signed two out-and-out central midfielders in the past eight years.
Adam Wharton, who rose to prominence at Crystal Palace and recently earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, is reported to have reached a “gentleman’s agreement” that would allow him to leave the club for a fee of between £60 million and £65 million.
However, the 22-year-old is said to be “strongly interested in only joining clubs in the Champions League”, effectively handing United’s recruitment team an ultimatum: “Europe or crash”.
With rivals such as Liverpool and Manchester City also monitoring the duo, United’s ability to provide Champions League football will be a deciding factor in whether they can finally resolve their long-standing midfield deficiencies.
