Obi Mikel tips Manchester United to sign Crystal Palace's Wharton for £80m next summer

John Obi Mikel has predicted that Manchester United will sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton next summer, with the 23-year-old England international expected to command a fee of at least £80 million.

Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder said he is a “big, big fan” of Wharton and believes Palace will hold onto him for one more season before allowing him to move on. “I think next season he will leave Crystal Palace,” Obi Mikel said. “I think they want to keep him for one more season and I see him going to Manchester United next season.”

Wharton’s future at Selhurst Park has been the subject of speculation for some time, though no concrete transfer approach materialised during the recently closed summer window. Reports have suggested Palace would demand a minimum of £80 million before entertaining any offers for the midfielder.

United did strengthen their midfield considerably this summer, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba, while also making an unsuccessful attempt to sign Louis Page from Leicester City. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow had arrived earlier in the window. Despite links to a new left-back, the club opted against further signings before the deadline.

Obi Mikel was also asked whether Wharton could end up at Chelsea, and while he expressed enthusiasm for the idea, he urged caution given the club’s current state of flux. “If he comes to Chelsea, absolutely fine, but there are so many good players in the Premier League,” he said. “It comes down to: who finds the right formula that works for them? And I think that’s what we need to find. Arsenal are fine, they’re settled, they know how they play. For us, we have a new manager, we have some new players, we just need to make sure we start clicking.”

Wharton’s rise since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers in 2024 has been rapid, earning him a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad. Whether United move to formalise their interest when the transfer window reopens remains to be seen, but Obi Mikel’s prediction will add further fuel to the speculation surrounding the defensive midfielder’s long-term future.