£70m 2026 priority signing identified by Manchester United

Manchester United’s preparations for the 2026 window continue to intensify, with club analysts pushing for clearer long-term solutions in key areas of the pitch.

Recent performances have highlighted promising attacking patterns but also exposed recurring structural issues, especially in fixtures where United have struggled to control the midfield against high-pressing opposition.

Ruben Amorim has repeatedly stressed the importance of balance between possession and aggression.

Recruitment staff have been busy tracking emerging Premier League talents, ensuring United do not fall behind rivals already planning for next season.

As the club looks to stabilise performance levels and secure European qualification, transfer priorities for the next major window are fast becoming clear.

Manchester United have placed Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton at the very top of their 2026 midfield shortlist, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The 21-year-old is viewed internally as the ideal long-term solution for a midfield rebuild that Amorim believes is essential if United want to compete with Europe’s elite again.

Club scouts have monitored him closely since his Palace breakthrough, convinced he possesses the composure, vision, and tactical intelligence required to anchor Amorim’s possession-heavy system.

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United are believed to be confident that a fee of around £70 million could be enough to sign him, though any deal will hinge heavily on whether the club secures European football for the 2026/27 season.

Adam Wharton, born in Blackburn, is thought to be open to returning north, but the midfielder would reportedly decline the move if United fail to qualify.

Wharton has been one of the Premier League’s most impressive young performers this season, dictating tempo, breaking lines, and showing a defensive maturity that has seen him compared to the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

Palace, however, see him as a central figure in their long-term project and are expected to resist any approach unless the player expresses a strong desire to leave.

United’s interest comes at a time when the club’s current midfield continues to show vulnerability.

Casemiro has struggled to replicate his early form, with reduced mobility and ongoing injuries limiting his impact.

Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte, recruited from PSG, has failed to convince Amorim and has been pushed to the fringes of the squad in recent weeks.

The manager is determined to bring in a midfielder capable of pressing aggressively while maintaining control in tight spaces, a profile Wharton matches perfectly.

His performances for Palace have shown a rare blend of maturity and technical polish, making him one of the most sought-after young midfielders in England.

With United prioritising a full midfield restructure, Wharton is viewed as a cornerstone signing that could reshape the team’s long-term identity.