Manchester United’s midfield remains a point of tension, even after a summer of heavy investment.

The club has already spent over £200m bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, yet the same concerns linger at the base of midfield.

Manuel Ugarte, signed for £50m from Paris Saint-Germain last year and once viewed as a long-term solution, has drawn consistent criticism from supporters.

His performance in the opening-day defeat to Arsenal was another example: combative, yes, but lacking composure.

Rúben Amorim, who knows Ugarte from their days together at Sporting Lisbon, has yet to coax the same dominant form out of him at Old Trafford.

United fans argue that while Ugarte was brought in to shield the defence and free up the attack, the side requires a more athletic and intelligent option.

Particularly with Casemiro’s contract expiring next summer and Bruno Fernandes’ future subject to constant speculation from Saudi Arabia.

Man Utd enquire to sign Premier League star

After last season’s misery – a 15th-place league finish compounded by a Europa League final defeat to Spurs – Amorim is under pressure to get this rebuild right.

Transfer Focus

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United’s absence from European competition this season gives them a unique chance to reset, but only if the midfield is corrected.

That is why the club has now begun exploring not just a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but also another of the Premier League’s most highly rated young players.

According to United in Focus, Manchester United have enquired about Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Journalist Graeme Bailey told the publication: “We can confirm United have made enquiries this week and are contemplating whether to make a move. Wharton is a player United have a long-term interest in, and like with Baleba, they feel he would offer them something different.”

This alternative pursuit follows the collapse of their interest in Baleba, whose valuation was deemed too high.

Wharton, however, will hardly be cheap. Palace are expected to demand in excess of £100m, particularly with Tottenham closing in on Eberechi Eze – a deal that would strengthen Palace’s hand in resisting further departures.

An upgrade on Ugarte

Wharton has quickly built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most complete young midfielders.

Henry Winter hailed him as a “pressing machine” after Palace’s FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa last season, and his ability to blend relentless energy with intelligence on the ball has attracted suitors across Europe.

Real Madrid are among the clubs who continue to monitor him closely which marks a remarkable rise. Still only 21, Wharton was signed by Palace from Blackburn for just £18m in January 2024.

He made 27 appearances across all competitions last season, registering two league assists, though his progress was interrupted by a groin injury that kept him out for 17 matches. He was also part of England’s Euro 2024 squad, even if he didn’t make an appearance at the tournament.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner regards him as indispensable, particularly as the club plays in the Conference League this season.

Wharton himself has already shown he can rise to the occasion, standing out against Liverpool in the Community Shield when he set up Palace’s equaliser.

His blend of maturity, physicality, and incisive passing explains why United believe he could be the answer to their midfield conundrum.

The numbers tell their own story. Ugarte may have been named in the Copa América Team of the Tournament with Uruguay last summer, but his United form has yet to convince.

Too often he offers industry without incision – a contrast sharply illustrated when compared with Wharton’s output.

According to FBref, Wharton ranks in the 91st percentile for both key passes (1.78 per 90) and progressive passes (7.31 per 90), as well as the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions (4.03 per 90).

He also completes 6.97 ball recoveries per 90 (96th percentile), underlining his ability to both win possession and instantly turn defence into attack.

Add in his 93rd-percentile rate for successful challenges against dribblers (3.00 per 90), and you have a midfielder capable of shielding the defence while also driving his team forward.

Ugarte, by contrast, has struggled with these progressive metrics.

Matches

29

Starts

22

Progressive Carries

16

Progressive Passes

61

Pass Completion Rate

87.9%

Tackles

77

Blocks

33

Though combative and reliable in duels, his passing range is limited, and his decision-making under pressure remains a weakness in United’s build-up play.

Amorim’s system – one that requires midfielders to knit transitions at pace and resist the press – exposes those flaws.

It is precisely why Wharton feels like such a natural fit.

The financial aspect complicates things, however. Spending £100m on Wharton would represent another statement of intent from the INEOS ownership.

But with the club not in any form of European competition this season, United must tread carefully financially to avoid any PSR breach.

They also must demonstrate to the fans that there is a pathway back to the top.

Signing one of England’s brightest midfielders – a player already drawing comparisons with the league’s most effective ball-progressors – would go a long way to proving that point.

Beyond numbers, Wharton offers something less tangible but equally vital: composure. Wharton has shown an ability to dictate tempo and control rhythm.

That balance between intensity and calm is something United have lacked since Michael Carrick’s days, and it’s no surprise Amorim views him as the kind of profile capable of transforming the side.

The move will be difficult. But if United truly want to replace Ugarte with a midfielder who can elevate both their defensive stability and attacking fluency, Wharton looks the obvious candidate.

For a fanbase desperate to see progress after a decade of malaise, he represents not just an upgrade, but a potential cornerstone for the club’s future.

His best display for Man Utd: £60m star is as undroppable as Mbeumo & Cunha

Manchester United suffered defeat in their first game of the new season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 17, 2025

Fair to say, in recent seasons, a large number of players have come through Chelsea.

In fact, since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in 2022, the Blues have signed 49 senior players, costing around £1.5bn, while 64 have been sold, recouping approximately £789m; many fit into both categories!

Almost inarguably, the best signing made during this period is the £40m paid to bring Cole Palmer to the club from Manchester City, considering the England international has scored 43 goals and registered 29 assists in 98 appearances for the club.

However, of the numerous players sold since 2022, many have gone on to flourish elsewhere, with one ex-Chelsea attacker, once compared to an all-time club legend, actually performing better than Palmer in 2025.

Cole Palmer's importance to Chelsea

Talisman Palmer is sidelined at the moment, suffering a groin injury during the warm-up ahead of Chelsea’s 5-1 demolition of West Ham, not featuring since, and not expected to recover in time for Saturday night’s clash with Brentford.

This is far from ideal considering Enzo Maresca’s team travel to Bayern Munich for their Champions League opener on Wednesday, before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford three days later.

The table below emphasises Palmer’s importance last season.

As the table documents, in the Premier League last season, Palmer ranked first for pretty much every attacking metric at Chelsea last season.

Palmer 2024/25 PL stats

Stats

Palmer

Chelsea rank

Minutes

3,191

2nd

Goals

15

1st

Assists

8

1st

Shots

121

1st

Shots on target

44

1st

Big chances missed

14

2nd

Big chances created

24

1st

Key passes

87

1st

Shot-creating actions

202

1st

Progressive carries

120

3rd

Carries into final third

76

1st

Touches in final third

901

1st

Average SofaScore rating

7.63

1st

via FBref.com and SofaScore

This doesn’t even consider his contributions in other competitions, most notably bagging three goals en route to Club World Cup glory, scoring a quick-fire brace during the final demolition of Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium.

However, is a former Chelsea attacker actually outperforming Palmer this calendar year?

The former Chelsea forward with more goals than Palmer

Back in 2019, Christian Pulisic joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £58m, signed in January before arriving in the summer, just as the club were hit with a transfer embargo, thereby prioritising youth under Frank Lampard.

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This worked to Pulisic’s advantage, scoring 11 goals and providing ten assists during his debut campaign in West London, with four of each coming during project restart, with many Americans joking that “lockdown Pulisic” is the greatest player of all-time.

Upon his arrival, he asserted that he wanted to replicate his idol Eden Hazard, stating “he is a guy to look up to and what I would love to become”.

Well, 18 months later, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes aptly stated, “he looks the closest thing I’ve seen to Eden Hazard”, high praise indeed from a legend of the game.

The USMNT winger’s importance dwindled during the subsequent three campaigns, however, scoring just one goal during his final campaign with the club, thereby sold to AC Milan for around £18m in the summer of 2023.

Well, this has been a shrewd bit of investment because Pulisic bagged 15 goals and 11 assists during his first season with the Rossoneri, before increasing this to 17 goals and 12 assists last season.

To commence the new campaign too, he has also scored against Bari in the Coppa Italia and Lecce in Serie A, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Massimiliano Allegri’s new-look side.

This means, in 2025, the American has now scored 11 club goals, five more than Palmer’s tally, having played just one more match.

Also, according to Football Transfers, this form has seen Pulisic’s value skyrocket up to around £41m, more than double the £18m he was sold to Milan for.

Thus, given that Chelsea have essentially become a player trading platform under Boehly’s ownership, they may regret selling the American for such a low fee and, who knows, had he stayed in West London, he could’ve been a key contributor, working in tandem with Palmer.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Sep 11, 2025

Liverpool have done it. When all is said and done at the end of the transfer window, which closes at 7pm this evening, Arne Slot’s side will have welcomed Alexander Isak to their ranks.

Isak, 25, has fought to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions for many weeks, and after weeks of interminable waiting, now has his wish. Isak will sign for Liverpool.

27 goals for Eddie Howe’s Magpies last season, the Sweden striker is an unstoppable force, so many ways to hurt his opponents. However, FSG don’t seem content with merely the record-breaking man, and plan for more before the window slams shut.

Liverpool planning D-day business

When Marc Guehi scored a looping strike at Villa Park on Sunday evening, he celebrated with the passion and weight of a player set to jump ship.

Liverpool want the centre-back, but they are also ready to move for a new winger to complement Isak, with transfer insider Matt Thielen revealing Richard Hughes has received an offer from AC Milan for Liverpool to sign Rafael Leao as a part of the deal that could see Joe Gomez sign for the Italians.

Valued at £86m and also targeted by Arsenal this summer, the Portuguese winger, 26, would truly be the icing on the cake for the Redmen, adding with Isak quality of the highest class to Slot’s frontline.

What Rafael Leao would bring to Liverpool

Leao has been remarked to be “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and while Milan struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign, he stood proud as a shining light, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists across the campaign, 50 matches all told.

A consistently menacing forward season upon season, Leao is electric-paced and utterly terrifying when on the ball and hurtling down the flank. FBref data records that he ranks among the top 4% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.

His world-class credentials and staggering price tag suggest that Liverpool could make an instant repeat of the deal that saw them land Isak by getting it done on D-day.

In fact, Leao has actually been described by Milan coach Stefano Pioli as looking like “the early Thierry Henry”, and that’s something that has been attributed to Isak over the past several years too, having been likened to the Arsenal and Les Bleus legend last season, bringing such flair and destructive quality to the final third.

While Leao has yet to unearth and maintain truly jaw-dropping levels in front of goal, he has the talent, all right, and might just reach that giddy level of his game with a move to Merseyside.

Rangy and robust, he’s the real deal and would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting skill set to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.

Similar to Isak in some ways, he would work wonders alongside the Scandinavian star, supplying and interchanging in seamless synergy.

In Isak, Liverpool have signed one of the finest centre-forwards in the business, but if they manage to wrap up a move for Leao too, there’s surely going to be no stopping the Anfield side, chock-full with world-class quality.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 31, 2025

Throughout the vast majority of the summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur have focused the majority of their attention on new additions within the forward line.

Mohammed Kudus has been the biggest addition in such a department, costing a whopping £55m from Premier League rivals West Ham United back in July.

However, he looks set to be joined by Xavi Simons, after the Lilywhites agreed a €60m (£52m) transfer fee with RB Leipzig for the Dutchman’s signature.

The player has travelled to North London to undergo his medical with Thomas Frank’s men, looking set to complete his own transfer before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Despite the pending big-money addition, other areas are now being targeted for reinforcements, with the new boss evidently wanting further depth in the defensive third.

Spurs’ hunt for added defensive reinforcements

Over the last few hours, journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Spurs have explored a deal to sign Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji before the window slams shut.

The Swiss international is said to be free to leave Pep Guardiola’s side before Monday night, leading to a £15m transfer fee being mooted for the 30-year-old’s signature.

However, attention is also being directed the way of Akanji’s teammate Nathan Ake, that’s according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update on the Lilywhites’ transfer activity.

They claim that Frank’s side have held talks with the Citizens over a move for the 30-year-old, who’s spent the last five years under Guardiola’s guidance at the Etihad.

The report also states that the player himself held face-to-face talks with Spurs representatives last week, after the impressive 2-0 victory in Manchester last weekend.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a better signing than Akanji

The rumours over potential deals to land new defensive reinforcements have certainly come out of the blue – leading to an exciting final few days of the window for the Spurs faithful.

Akanji has been a key member of the City squad over the last couple of seasons, registering 85 appearances in the top-flight – subsequently winning two titles in the last three years.

However, like the Lilywhites, the Citizens have undergone somewhat of an overhaul during the summer to help Guardiola mount a charge for top spot after missing out to Liverpool in 2024/25.

It appears as though Akanji could be sold, whether that be to Spurs or Galatasaray, but Frank’s men would be much better off pursuing a move for his teammate, Ake.

Given his previous spells at Chelsea and Watford, he’s a more established Premier League defender, offering needed versatility that can see him operate at the centre or left side of the backline.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent campaign, the Dutchman has managed to massively outperform Akanji, undoubtedly offering more of a presence should he move to North London.

Ake, who’s been labelled “incredible” by current boss Guardiola, completed more of the passes he attempted, offering Frank’s side an added ball-playing presence at the back.

Games played

10

26

Minutes played

678

2014

Pass accuracy

94%

93%

Tackles won

0.9

0.5

Tackle success rate

67%

64%

Blocks made

0.9

0.4

Clearances made

2.9

2.8

Aerials won

1.7

1.3

Aerial success rate

57%

54%

Out of possession, the Dutchman has also dominated Akanji, winning more of the tackles he entered, whilst also making more blocks – handing the side the added defensive quality to help build on their impressive start in 2025/26.

He has also thrived in the air, winning more of the aerial battles he entered, an asset that could make him a threat at both ends of the pitch in North London.

It’s unclear how much a deal for Ake would set the Lilywhites hierarchy back this summer, but his experience in England’s top-flight could prove to be a valuable asset to Frank’s side.

It also remains to be seen if the player himself is keen on a move to join the Lilywhites, but any move before Monday’s deadline would be a superb signing and one that would hand the side added quality in the defensive department.

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