Donny van de Beek, Sofyan Amrabat, Manuel Ugarte. Manchester United's midfield reinforcements in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era don't make for pretty reading, do they?

Casemiro, up to nine Premier League goals for the season, may well buck the trend, as too does Bruno Fernandes, yet far too often the Red Devils have got it wrong when it comes to strengthening such a key area of the pitch.

Thankfully, with Michael Carrick at the helm, INEOS may well have the best person possible to give advice on what the club need next season, with the Englishman winning almost everything there is to win during his stellar 12-year stay at Old Trafford as a player.

Kobbie Mainoo's resurgence under Carrick has been timely ahead of what is a seismic summer, although the 21-year-old can't do it alone. At least one new signing is essential.

Man Utd offered hope of striking £60m deal for Ederson alternative

All the talk, at present, is centred around something of a wildcard name in the form of Atalanta's Ederson, with United said to be leading the race to sign the Brazilian as things stand.

There is even suggestion that the 26-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract with the Old Trafford side, despite previously looking close to joining Atletico Madrid.

Ederson is merely one name on the lengthy list of targets, however, with INEOS also keeping tabs on a raft of Premier League stars too, including Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.

As reported by journalist Samuel Luckhurst, United's hope is to make at least five new signings this summer, with as many as three central midfielders being considered.

In Wharton's case, specifically, the 22-year-old is said to be keen to leave Selhurst Park in order to join a Champions League club, having originally made the move to south London from Blackburn Rovers back in January 2024.

That switch was secured for a fee of around £20m, with Luckhurst revealing that he is now set to be available for around £60m, inferring that an offer in that ballpark is likely to be accepted.

How Wharton compares to Ederson this season

Ederson, part of the Atalanta side that claimed Europa League glory in 2024, would certainly have his merits as a more left-field signing this summer, having shown himself to be a real ball-winning, midfield force in Serie A.

Indeed, his average of 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game this season matches Declan Rice's average in the Premier League at Arsenal, an encouraging sign with regard to the athleticism he would provide to this current United squad.

If it is to be a choice between Ederson and that man Wharton, however, there should really be only one winner, with a £60m fee almost a bargain for a player of his talent.

Described as a passing "cheat code" by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, the England international is simply a joy to watch for both club and country, such a graceful and almost effortlessly effective presence at the base of the midfield.

With his elegant, cultured left foot, Wharton is a master at providing progressive, Carrick-like passes into the forward line, currently ranking fourth in the Premier League for 'big chances' created in 2025/26, behind only Rice, Rayan Cherki and, of course, Fernandes.

Alongside that tally of 14 'big chances' created, he's also registered five assists and averages 1.2 key passes per game.

For context, Ederson has created only three 'big chances', provided only two assists and averages 0.9 key passes per game, offering little in a progressive or creative sense from his number six berth.

Interestingly too, despite his small, slight stature, Wharton is also actually a superior ball-winner, having bettered Ederson's average with three tackles and interceptions won per game, shining as part of a midfield two in Oliver Glasner's 3-4-2-1 set-up.

He's a possible long-term signing yet one who is already proven in the Premier League, while having been part of a Palace side that has beaten both Manchester City and Liverpool at Wembley to claim the FA Cup and Community Shield.

Now also potentially on course for Conference League glory too, Wharton could also have a role to play at this summer's World Cup, vying with the likes of Mainoo and Elliot Anderson to be Rice's starting partner.

Ederson is a talent in his own right, but it is Wharton who looks truly generational, the type of player that United and INEOS will regret not poaching later down the line.

As noted by Andy Mitten previously, the Old Trafford hierarchy already turned down the chance to prise the left-footer from Blackburn - they can't make the same mistake again.