Manchester United set Elliot Anderson as priority, keep Adam Wharton in parallel track for 2025 midfield refresh

Manchester United’s early 2025 plan is clear: a dynamic No.8 is the first brick in the midfield rebuild. Sources around the recruitment brief that Elliot Anderson is trending as the primary focus, with Adam Wharton tracked in parallel as a different, complementary profile. The logic fits United’s 4-3-3 vision under the INEOS reset: Anderson provides vertical carry and aggression between the lines, while Wharton brings tempo, press resistance and control from deeper zones. Valuations will be steep given homegrown status and Premier League premiums, but United are acting early to avoid auctions and align with PSR planning.

The discussion gained traction after Laurie Whitwell noted on The Athletic’s podcast that Elliot Anderson appears to be the current priority for Manchester United’s summer midfield business, with Adam Wharton also under consideration as a contrasting option. That matches ongoing scouting across the Premier League, where INEOS are targeting a high-energy left-sided No.8 and a deep controller to complement Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Both Anderson at Newcastle United and Wharton at Crystal Palace are homegrown, in form, and fit the age profile United want for a long-term core.

🚨🗣️ @lauriewhitwell on midfield targets for next summer: "Elliot Anderson looks like the primary focus to me at the moment, but you’ve also got Adam Wharton, who’s a different kind of midfielder." [@TheAthleticFC pod]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Prioritising Elliot Anderson signals a tactical commitment to a more aggressive left interior. Anderson’s game is built on direct carries, counterpress recoveries and quick release passes into the final third. He thrives in tight zones and can tilt the pitch by dragging markers out of shape, a trait United have lacked on the left when opponents lock onto Bruno Fernandes. In a 4-3-3, he projects as the left No.8 who can dovetail with Luke Shaw’s underlaps and Marcus Rashford’s runs, while allowing Kobbie Mainoo to occupy the metronome role.

Adam Wharton, by contrast, is the rhythm-setter. His scanning, body orientation and one-touch distribution change United’s build-up ceiling. He drops to make back-three structures, breaks pressing lines with disguise, and sustains pressure by keeping rest defence connected. Slotting Wharton as a 6 or 6-8 hybrid would reduce the team’s volatility under pressure, particularly away from home.

From a squad-planning view, both are homegrown, which optimises registration and aligns with a younger wage curve. The challenge is market dynamics. Newcastle value Anderson as a starter and Crystal Palace have already seen Wharton’s valuation skyrocket after his rapid adaptation. Expect fees that reflect Premier League scarcity. Even so, moving early, structuring add-ons, and sequencing sales can keep Manchester United inside PSR limits while upgrading the team’s technical floor and pressing identity.

Reaction

Fan sentiment splits along two lines. A sizable group is enthusiastic about the profiles. They see Anderson’s bite and engine as exactly what United’s midfield has lacked in big away games, and Wharton’s calm as the antidote to frantic spells in build-up. That optimism shows up in calls to move fast and avoid a summer bidding war.

Another camp argues the obvious: United still need an outright defensive anchor. Their posts hammer home the need for a destroyer in the middle to protect transitions and free Mainoo. Some skepticism targets the idea of chasing two young, homegrown midfielders at Premier League premiums when the squad also needs depth at centre-back and right-back.

There are also rumor-heavy threads about agent meetings and rival interest from Manchester City and Liverpool. Supporters are wary of noise merchants, yet they acknowledge that both players fit multiple top clubs. A small minority drifted into off-color comments, which were quickly pushed back by others who focused the debate on fit, price and squad balance. Net takeaway: cautious excitement, loud demands for a ball-winner, and a plea for United to act decisively instead of reacting in July.

Social reactions

After the World Cup his price will be well over £100m. 🤣

andrew (@reeves1960)

Wharton is an 8, Anderson is a hybrid 6/8

(fan)Dorgwater (@Dorgwatermedia)

United should aim for both

Cossie Football (@CossieFootball)

Prediction

Most likely scenario: United open a primary lane for Anderson early in the window, testing Newcastle’s resolve with a structured offer built on a moderate fixed fee and significant performance-related add-ons. The club will try to secure player-side alignment first, then lean on timing pressure if Newcastle move for their own reinforcements. If Anderson indicates willingness, momentum could build quickly, especially if United finalize outgoings before the first PSR checkpoint.

In parallel, United keep warm contact around Wharton, gauging Crystal Palace’s price and the player’s stance. If the Wharton market hardens with rival bids, United could pivot to a staggered plan: Anderson in 2025, controller in 2026, or a different-profile 6 such as a ball-winner from the continent to balance costs.

Alternative path: should City push for Anderson or Liverpool tighten their interest in Wharton, United may accelerate and put down early terms to prevent an auction. Expect contingency scouting on similar-age profiles in France and Portugal. Timeline-wise, groundwork in spring, decisive movement in the first three weeks of the summer window, and a strong push to have at least one midfield signing integrated for the early tour. Probability today: Anderson to United more likely than not if a clean path opens. Wharton remains plausible but more price and competition sensitive.

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Conclusion

The strategy is coherent and overdue. A press-savvy left No.8 who can carry, combine and counterpress next to a steady controller is how you stabilise United’s floor and lift their ceiling. Elliot Anderson checks the first box, giving the side verticality without sacrificing work rate. Adam Wharton answers the second, bringing poise and patterns that make the team repeatable week to week.

Yes, the Premier League tax will bite. Yes, rival interest is real. But acting early, securing player-side alignment, and sequencing outgoings can make at least one of these deals both attainable and transformational. With INEOS pushing for younger, coachable profiles, this is the right lane at the right time. If United land Anderson and keep the line warm for a controller, the midfield finally starts to look modern, layered and durable. The rebuild turns from slogans into structure, and the team takes a tangible step toward a sustainable identity.