Baleba and Wharton 'barely feature' in Man United's midfield transfer talks despite Ferdinand and Keane backing

Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton have barely registered in Manchester United’s internal transfer discussions this summer, despite the club actively seeking midfield reinforcements and both players carrying the public endorsement of legends Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane.

According to the Daily Mail, neither midfielder has ‘featured prominently’ in conversations within the United hierarchy, cooling speculation that had linked both players with moves to Old Trafford. United did make an enquiry for Brighton’s Baleba last year, but were deterred by the club’s asking price — reported to be at least £100 million — and that stance appears unchanged heading into this window.

Wharton’s prospects of a move to Manchester appear even more remote. There is a view inside Old Trafford that the Crystal Palace midfielder is too similar in profile to Kobbie Mainoo, the United academy graduate who has re-established himself as a central figure in the side under Michael Carrick.

The development may frustrate two of the club’s most vocal former players. Roy Keane praised Wharton on ITV in November, highlighting the 21-year-old’s instinct to play forward rather than sideways. “What I like about him, the first option he seems to look at is, ‘Can I pass it forward?’ And that’s a big strength to have,” Keane said, adding that Wharton would grow further as he learned to impose himself on teammates.

Ferdinand was even more direct in his recommendation, describing Wharton on his YouTube channel last summer as the closest current player to former United midfielder Michael Carrick. “He’s a conductor and can control things,” Ferdinand said. “I watched him in a couple of games last season against big teams like Man City and Liverpool, and he looks unfazed. He looks ready for a big occasion. I love him. I think he’s a fantastic footballer.”

Ferdinand had also flagged Baleba as a target worth pursuing, noting the Cameroonian had been “the hot topic” in transfer circles before Wharton entered the conversation.

With both names now appearing unlikely to arrive, United’s midfield recruitment drive will need to look elsewhere. The club have already moved to add depth in that area this summer, though the absence of two players so publicly championed by club icons underlines how differently the current hierarchy is approaching the rebuild.