WHY PAUL MERSON BELIEVES MANCHESTER UNITED MUST SNUB ELLIOT ANDERSON FOR ADAM WHARTON
Paul Merson tells Manchester United to snub Elliot Anderson for Adam Wharton. Discover the latest on United's £100m midfield hunt.
Paul Merson thinks Manchester United should forget about signing Elliot Anderson and instead focus their energy on Adam Wharton as their top transfer target this summer.
Last year, United threw a ton of money—about £200 million—at fixing their attack, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. They’d also planned to bring in a deep-lying midfielder for Ruben Amorim’s much-criticised 3-4-3 setup, with Anderson, Wharton, and Carlos Baleba all on their radar.
But after a failed move for Brighton’s Baleba, Amorim kicked off the 2024/25 season with the same midfielders he ended with last year. Since then, Michael Carrick has stepped in and done a solid job. He’s got Kobbie Mainoo firing again alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, and the midfield looks sharper. Still, the people running things at Old Trafford see midfield as a weak spot—especially with Casemiro on his way out and nobody new arriving in January.
United have had their eyes on Anderson for a while. The 23-year-old has become a regular under Thomas Tuchel for England ahead of the World Cup. But when asked about Anderson on Sky Sports News, Merson didn’t seem impressed. He actually thinks Wharton, who’s also with England, makes more sense for United.
“I like Elliot Anderson, but he doesn’t wow me,” Merson said. “Forest are fourth from bottom, so they’re not exactly bossing games in midfield, are they? And if you’re a midfielder, that’s where you make your mark. I just don’t see him running things at Forest, and this is Manchester United we’re talking about.”
Merson finished with, “I’d go for Adam Wharton over him.”
When January rolled around, reports suggested Forest would only listen to offers for Anderson if someone threw £100 million or more at them. Wharton, on the other hand, is valued between £80 million and £100 million by Crystal Palace.
Wharton isn’t shy about his ambitions. Back in October, he told Sky Sports he wants to play as many Premier League games as possible and reach the top level. “There’s a World Cup in the summer—everyone wants to play at the World Cup,” he said. “And if you can play Champions League, you want to play Champions League. You’d be stupid if you didn’t.”
When asked about his weaknesses, Wharton was honest: “I can improve at everything—on the ball, off the ball, communicating on and off the pitch. The list is endless.”
Wharton, who’s also caught Liverpool’s eye, is under contract with Palace until June 2029.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
Must Read
