Manchester United eyes Wharton option as Baleba talks continue

Manchester United weigh a midfield option as Baleba price looms, with Adam Wharton seen as a cost-efficient alternative after Sesko signing.

Adam Wharton value clarifies Manchester United plan for Baleba alternative

Manchester United are prioritising a midfield addition as they build Ruben Amorim's evolving squad after signing Benjamin Sesko for €76.5 million (£66.5m) plus add-ons on a five-year deal. The club had already added Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this window, and with just over three weeks left in the transfer window they are weighing a final incoming. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has been linked with a move, with intermediaries indicating United have expressed interest. However, Baleba is reported to carry a price around £100m, which has pushed United to consider alternatives.

One name discussed as a possible fit is Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. Wharton has long been associated with a move to Old Trafford, and there are suggestions of a gentleman’s agreement for him to depart Palace next year. The financial picture around Wharton is very different. CIES Football Observatory values the midfielder at about €32m to €37m, based on data from thousands of transfers and using a regression model. Palace previously valued Wharton at around £60m, and he cost Palace about £18m in 2024. That gap highlights how market dynamics and analytics can diverge from club valuations. Even if United could push a £60m price for Wharton, it would still be well below Baleba’s rumored asking price, underscoring the challenge of closing a deal this summer.

The transfer market is shifting from big splash moves to a more nuanced mix of value and timing. United has already spent heavily this window, signaling a clear intent to strengthen quickly but also inviting scrutiny of the long term budget and wage structure. The Wharton option, if pursued, would offer a cheaper path that fits a more measured growth plan, yet it carries its own risks: reliance on a player who may be ready but not proven at this scale, and a deal that could hinge on a delicate timing dynamic with Palace. The broader lesson is that data-driven valuations can reveal bargains, but they must align with a club’s strategic aims and the realities of negotiation in the Premier League.

Highlights

Manchester United faces a test of numbers as it plots a path that blends ambition with budgeting.