Midfielder Michael Carrick will go down as one of the best signings in Manchester United history, racking up over 450 appearances for the club over a 12-year period at Old Trafford.
The Englishman joined the Red Devils back in 2006, costing £13m from Tottenham Hotspur – a fee that would prove to be a bargain given his time in the North West.
During his time as a player, he won five Premier League titles, one Europa League and one Champions League, along with 11 other trophies, being a consistent presence during the success endured under Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, the club are currently lacking a player of the Englishman’s quality at the heart of the side, with Ruben Amorim undoubtedly wanting to rectify such a situation before the end of the summer window.
It’s not through a lack of trying, with numerous players appearing on their radar, but no deals have yet been completed despite continued work on another target in recent days.
Man Utd preparing move for the new Michael Carrick
In a quest to land a new midfielder this summer, United and Amorim have been hunting far and wide to land a new sensation at the heart of the side, but so far, to no avail.
The likes of Carlos Baleba, Angelo Stiller and Morten Hjulmand have all been touted as options, with the latter seemingly wanting a move to rejoin Amorim after playing under him at Sporting CP.
However, the hierarchy have seemingly moved on to another talent, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton the latest player to be linked, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that the Red Devils have been closely monitoring the 21-year-old, who made 20 Premier League appearances, whilst also helping the Eagles win the FA Cup for the first time ever.
It also states that Amorim’s side are preparing a €100m (£86m) offer to land the England international, as part of the big overhaul of the current first-team squad.
Why United’s £86m target would be their next Carrick
As previously mentioned, Carrick will go down as a club legend at United, showcasing that bargain transfers can still have a huge impact on various levels of success in the modern game.
However, that hasn’t yet been the case in the Red Devils’ activity within the transfer market to date, splashing over £200m on just three senior additions this summer.
Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been added to the side, with all three of the talents making their debut in the opening-day defeat against Arsenal.
Despite the mammoth money already forked out by the hierarchy, their heavy spending looks set to continue, especially if they are to land Wharton over the next couple of weeks.
A deal for the youngster would cost nearly eight times more than that of Carrick, but it would be one with glaring similarities to the one they made 19 years ago.
The club would be taking a risk on a player who has just two years of experience in England’s top-flight, but it’s one that has huge potential to be a success, as seen with their deal to land the 23-year-old.
His stats from the recent season at Selhurst Park highlight the talent he possesses despite his tender age, able to finally end the club’s hunt for a new midfielder in the process.
Games played
20
Goals & assists
2
Progressive passes
7.3
Passes into final third
5.3
Key passes made
1.8
Tackles won
2.3
Interceptions made
1.4
Clearances made
1.8
Recoveries made
6.9
Wharton, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by HLTCO, ranked in the 93rd percentile for progressive passes (7.3) and 86th percentile for passes into the final third (5.3) – highlighting the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet.
Carrick was also known for his ball-playing ability, as seen by his tally of 21 assists during his Premier League career at United, with Wharton evidently able to provide such levels of quality.
However, out of possession, the youngster was just as impressive last campaign, winning 2.3 tackles per 90, whilst ranking in the 93rd percentile for ball recoveries made per 90 (6.9).
A ball-winner is evidently what the club have been hunting for to help bolster their midfield, with the 21-year-old able to fill such a void with his big-money transfer.
It may seem to be a hefty investment on such a young and inexperienced talent, but he’s already demonstrated his star qualities despite his tender age.
If he can make the move and match or surpass the levels achieved by Carrick, it would be a sensational addition and one that could catapult the side to glory in the near future.
