Mikel tips Manchester United to win £80m Adam Wharton race as Alaba move ruled out

John Obi Mikel has predicted that Manchester United will beat their rivals to the signature of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton next summer, with the England international widely valued at around £80 million. Meanwhile, United have reportedly ruled out a move for free agent David Alaba, despite the club’s need for defensive reinforcements.

United manager Michael Carrick oversaw the arrivals of three midfielders this summer — Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, Andrey Santos from Chelsea, and Carlos Baleba from Brighton — as the club sought to transform their engine room ahead of a campaign across all four competitions. However, their backline remained unstrengthened during the window, leaving questions over whether the squad rebuild is truly complete.

Wharton, 22, held his place at Selhurst Park this summer despite interest from United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, but Mikel does not expect him to remain in south London much longer. Speaking during a live Q&A on The Obi One Podcast, the former Nigeria international said: “I love him! I love Adam Wharton, I’m a big, big fan. 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, and I see him going to Manchester United next season.”

On the defensive front, a potential move for former Real Madrid and Austria captain David Alaba — currently a free agent — has been dismissed, according to the Manchester Evening News. United correspondent Tyrone Marshall, responding to fan questions, indicated the club would not pursue Alaba or fellow former Madrid stars Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal, in keeping with the club’s current strategy of targeting younger players with high potential rather than established names in the latter stages of their careers.

The shift in transfer philosophy marks a clear departure from the era of high-profile signings such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Edinson Cavani, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford — moves that are widely regarded as having failed to deliver the expected returns.