INEOS begin move to sign £100m Ugarte upgrade for Man Utd

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.

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.

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.