Adam Wharton transfer value made clear as Man United 'target' Carlos Baleba alternative

Adam Wharton transfer value made clear as Man United 'target' Carlos Baleba alternative

The latest Manchester United transfer news as Carlos Baleba alternatives continue to be linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Man Utd-linked midfielder Adam Wharton in pre-season action for Crystal Palace. (Image: Offside via Getty Images)

Manchester United are expected to prioritise a new midfielder to add to Ruben Amorim's evolving squad after completing the signing of Benjamin Sesko.

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The striker finalised his transfer from RB Leipzig, for a fee of €76.5million (£66.5m) and €8.5m (£7.3m) in add-ons. Sesko has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford and strengthens Amorim's forward line further.

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After previously signing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, United have been busy during the summer transfer window. And with just over three weeks until the transfer window closes, they could welcome in one more new face.

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Prior to Sesko's confirmed arrival, Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba was linked with a move. The Athletic said that United have made contact with the Seagulls - via intermediaries - over the possibility of a move for the Cameroon international.

Any potential move isn't expected to be easy, however, with Brighton said to want around £100million. It means alternatives are, rightly so, being considered and one of them is claimed to be Crystal Palace star, Adam Wharton.

The Englishman has been tentatively linked with a move to Old Trafford since his switch to Palace. Various reports have stated that Wharton has a gentleman's agreement with the Eagles to leave next summer.

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Previously, it was understood that Palace valued Wharton at £60million. But the latest figures released by the CIES Football Observatory reckon the former Blackburn Rovers player should be valued more in the region of €32million (£27.7m) to €37m (£32m).

Using a sample of over past 8,000 transfers, the website evaluates prices of players from the five major European top-flights using the statistical technique of multiple linear regression - with fees paid by clubs as an independent variable.

That's quite a decrease in what many would expect the midfielder to leave the London club for. Wharton cost the club £18million in 2024 and he's only got better since then.

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However, even if the fee was £60million, that is still drastically lower than the valuation that United would have to match to sign Baleba this summer.

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