da luck： At Manchester United, there is a newfound sense of hope and optimism. Much has changed in recent weeks for Ruben Amorim, who has overseen a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and is knocking on the top four door.
da pinup bet： The Red Devils have strengthened their spine, core players reborn in an alliance of security and stability stretching down the Old Trafford pitch.
But something is still lacking, and it’s clear that the Old Trafford side need a centre-midfielder to take their resurgence to the next level.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is among those at the top of INEOS’s shopping list.
Man Utd's interest in Adam Wharton
The engine room bears one of the most glaring holes in Amorim’s Manchester United squad. Casemiro has been resurgent this season, but the Brazilian is 33 and new deep-lying midfielders must be signed.
That’s where Wharton comes in.
It has been felt for a number of months that the 21-year-old Three Lions star ranks high on United’s list of targets, and he would certainly open up avenues in the middle of the park, ranked among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for through balls per 90, as per FBref.
This is an up-and-coming superstar who is never content with where he is. By completing a transfer to the Theatre of Dreams, he could at least take a giant step toward the very top of the European game.
However, Palace will not let their prized prospect leave easily, and have actually priced him at around £100m as interest continues to swell.
While Wharton would be a credit to the Red Devils project, Amorim actually has his own version of the England international, and he must start unleashing him.
Amorim must unleash his "future £100m" star
If it’s not clear already who the man in question is here, Kobbie Mainoo will no doubt feel that he has what it takes to nail down a regular starting role in Amorim’s Man United project. But he’s got a long way to go.
While the thought of adding Wharton to the ranks is exciting, United might have their own version in Mainoo, with the 20-year-old out of favour right now but having been hailed by former teammate Rasmus Hojlund after winning the FA Cup – and scoring against City in the final – as being a “generational” talent.
Paul Scholes noted that watching the powerful star on the ball and in his groove was “poetry in motion”.
But there’s no question that he has regressed since Amorim took to the dugout, left out in the cold all too often by a manager who has not been won over by his skillset.
Matches (starts)
24 (24)
25 (19)
Goals
3
0
Assists
1
0
Touches*
49.0
46.0
Pass completion
87%
87%
Big chances created
0
4
Key passes*
0.6
0.6
Dribbles*
1.3
0.9
Ball recoveries*
4.0
3.5
Tackles + interceptions*
2.9
2.6
Duels (won)*
5.0 (52%)
4.4 (45%)
This season, the England international’s statistics are not worth collating, having been reduced to seven cameos in the Premier League, averaging out at 22 minutes per match.
Amorim does not have a vendetta against Mainoo, and rather, harbours concerns over the Carrington graduate’s intensity and tactical suitability within the system.
But he’s shown that he has what it takes, and with a little fine-tuning over the coming months, Mainoo’s technical quality and natural athleticism could see him win the head coach over and cement a position of prominence under the Theatre’s spotlights.
After all, the homegrown hero has been hailed as a “future £100m+ footballer”, and so the last thing United want is for him to slip through their fingers.
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2 ByAngus Sinclair