Ryan Giggs has publicly backed Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as a priority summer signing for Manchester United, going as far as telling manager Michael Carrick that the 22-year-old England international already looks like a Man United player. Speaking to Webby & O’Neill, the United legend insisted that midfield is the single most urgent area needing attention, predicting that at least two signings are required.
Wharton, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Palace and is left-footed, has been a constant in the side this season. Giggs specifically praised his composure on the ball, his forward passing, and his ability to press higher up the pitch. He also named Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as an equally strong candidate, suggesting combinations of Wharton-Mainoo or Anderson-Wharton both make tactical sense.
Crystal Palace value Wharton at around £70 million, though separate reports suggest a gentleman’s agreement exists for closer to £65 million. Giggs acknowledged British players carry a heavy premium but stayed firm that United need two central midfielders regardless of the cost.
‘First of all, we’ve got to deal with our players who have gone out on loan, Rashford, Sancho, Hojlund, we’ve got all those to deal with, but the priority is definitely midfield, I can see definitely two,’ Giggs said in an interview with Webby & O’Neill. ‘It looks like Mainoo is going to stay, Casemiro is going to go, Ugarte is going to go, and we need to strengthen midfield without a shadow of a doubt.
‘I always like a left-footer in the team, so I wouldn’t argue with Wharton, I think he looks, to me, like a Man United player. Somebody who can handle the ball, passes forward, runs forward, Premier League experience, all of them have got Premier League experience, so I wouldn’t be against that.
‘Anderson I like as well, solid player. Plays every game, I can see a Wharton and Mainoo, an Anderson and Wharton, I can see all of those scenarios, it just depends, British players are a lot of money and what we’re able to spend. But we need two midfielders.’ (Quote via Metro)
Do Manchester United Actually Need Wharton, or Is Giggs Selling Nostalgia?
In the 2025-26 Premier League season, Wharton has played in 27 matches, averaging 42.44 passes per game with a 79.53% completion rate. He has chipped in with five assists and 1.32 key passes per game, putting his expected assists output above 89% of Premier League players.
Those numbers tell a genuine story. He reads transitions early, receives on the half-turn, and keeps the tempo moving rather than just recycling possession sideways. His main weakness is a lack of goals; he hasn’t scored yet this season, and he does carry a booking risk, having collected four yellows and a red.
United faces a near-total overhaul of its engine room. Casemiro is leaving as a free agent, and Manuel Ugarte, who has logged just 859 minutes under three different managers, will likely follow him out the door. That leaves Kobbie Mainoo as the only reliable central option, which isn’t enough for a club targeting Champions League football.
Wharton suits the system Carrick wants on paper, but Elliot Anderson is the smarter, more transformative signing. Anderson has been United’s primary target for several months, though Manchester City are reportedly leading that race. If City snatch Anderson, Wharton becomes a very good fallback option. United need him next season if they can’t sign a more dynamic profile. Wharton provides composure, passing range, and Premier League durability, but he doesn’t change games the way Anderson or Tonali might.
Red Devils already have first summer transfer in place – Teenage sensation on course to join Man Utd
This summer, expect United to sign two midfielders. Whether Wharton is one of them depends entirely on how the Anderson situation plays out.
