John Obi Mikel Predicts Adam Wharton Transfer to Manchester United

John Obi Mikel tips Adam Wharton for Manchester United move – but INEOS have other plans

John Obi Mikel sees Adam Wharton in Manchester United red next season. Manchester United themselves? Not so much.

The former Chelsea midfielder used his podcast to lavish praise on the Crystal Palace youngster and nail his colours to the mast over Wharton’s future.

“I love him! I love Adam Wharton, I'm a big, big fan,” Obi Mikel said, before pushing his prediction a step further. “I think he's going to go places, though, I think next season he will leave Crystal Palace. I think they want to keep him for one more season. I see him going to Manchester United next season.”

That’s a bold call over a player still only 22 and valued at around £60 million by Transfermarkt. Palace held firm during the recent window, keeping Wharton despite serious interest from across the Premier League.

United were among the clubs watching him closely earlier in the summer. Scouts liked what they saw, but the hierarchy never pulled the trigger on a formal bid. The rebuild in midfield went in a different direction.

INEOS sanctioned a complete refresh for Michael Carrick’s engine room, committing an upfront £148 million to bring in Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans. Three midfielders, three different profiles, one clear message: that area of the pitch is no longer the priority.

So while Obi Mikel talks up a move to Old Trafford, the reality inside M16 looks very different. Wharton is no longer viewed as a concrete target. The money has already gone into the middle of the park. The next big spend is expected to land somewhere else.

And that somewhere is the backline.

INEOS chose not to add a single defender to Carrick’s squad over the last few months, a call that raised eyebrows given the demands of a season that now includes Champions League football. One serious injury in defence and that decision could come back to haunt them.

The club’s recruitment plans reflect that risk. As things stand, United’s priority signing for 2027 is believed to be Lewis Hall, identified as the ideal long-term successor to 31-year-old Luke Shaw. Shaw is into the final nine months of his contract at Old Trafford, and the clock is ticking.

So while Obi Mikel is convinced Adam Wharton is heading for Manchester, the road United are mapping out points in another direction entirely.