Crystal Palace Blocks Wharton Move as Manchester United Seek Left-Back
Pierre Sage has drawn a clear line in the sand over Adam Wharton’s future – and it does not involve Manchester United this summer.
The new Crystal Palace head coach, speaking before his side return to Premier League action this weekend, made it plain that the England international will not be leaving Selhurst Park in this window, despite sustained links with United.
“We sold big players and now I think it's not the moment to do that,” Sage said. “Adam can play at a big club but I think one year with us, one year with a new dynamic, will be good for him and we need him.”
Palace have already cashed in on several key names. Wharton, in Sage’s eyes, is non-negotiable.
United turn gaze to left-back market
With Wharton off the table, United’s attention has swung firmly back to their glaring issue at left-back.
The club are pushing to complete a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba after submitting a bid worth around £60million plus £5m in add-ons, but work behind the scenes has already started on reinforcing the left side of defence before the window closes.
United have made contact with the camp of Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, testing the water over a possible deal. The response has not been encouraging: the Spaniard is understood to be happy at the Nou Camp, and Barca have given no indication they are willing sellers.
That leaves Michael Carrick with a headache. With Patrick Dorgu viewed as an option higher up the pitch and youngster Harry Amass expected to leave, Luke Shaw stands as the only senior specialist in the position. The 31-year-old’s injury record is well documented, even if he did manage to stay fit throughout last season.
Behind the scenes, United are being offered alternatives. RB Leipzig’s David Raum has been put on the table, with the Germany international entering the final year of his contract and the Bundesliga club open to a sale to avoid losing him for nothing. Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas has also been proposed.
Spanish teenager Salinas, 19, has a £13.7m release clause in his current deal and has long been on United’s radar. Reports in Spain claim the club have now “burst into negotiations” to explore a move, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona also interested.
Carrick wants more – and says so
Carrick has been consistent all summer: he wants more bodies, and he wants the right ones.
“I just think we're looking to strengthen the squad,” he said at his pre-Hull City press conference. “We're certainly working towards that, making the most of the situation that we have and trying to improve things and trying to move forward.
“We're certainly trying to make the most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it. And I think we're a good way to doing that, so far.”
United have already brought in Karl Darlow, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Baleba is expected to follow, with an agreement with Brighton understood to be close. The Cameroonian would become the third midfield signing of the window, arriving after Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious injury at the World Cup left a sizeable gap in the engine room.
Even with that midfield rebuild, Carrick is pushing for more. The left-back situation remains unresolved, and previous interest in Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly has led nowhere.
Rashford’s future edges towards clarity
One of the other big questions of United’s summer hangs over Marcus Rashford.
Back at Old Trafford after a season-long loan with Barcelona, the 28-year-old has been the subject of speculation over whether he will stay or be moved on late in the window. United are still understood to be open to offers, but the mood is shifting towards reintegration rather than a parting of ways.
Carrick, asked directly whether Rashford had expressed a desire to remain, swerved any grand declarations but did highlight the forward’s work on the training ground.
He said Rashford had trained “fantastically well”, a pointed compliment at a time when the club weigh up his role for the new campaign.
New season, old demands at Old Trafford
The timing of all this movement is no coincidence. The Premier League season kicks off today, with champions Arsenal at home to newly-promoted Coventry City, and United are back in the spotlight on Saturday lunchtime away at another newcomer, Hull City.
United always expected to be busy in the final fortnight of the window. The squad needed depth, quality and, in certain areas, a reset. The early signings addressed some of that. The Baleba deal, once finalised, will go further.
But the search for a left-back, the firm stance from Palace on Wharton, and the delicate call on Rashford’s future show there is still plenty of work to do.
The clock is ticking. United know exactly where the gaps are. The question now is whether they can close them before the window slams shut.
