Manchester United have been urged to intensify their pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton after missing out on Elliot Anderson and suffering a devastating injury to Manuel Ugarte.
Anderson joins Manchester City in £116m deal
Manchester City have struck a deal with Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson worth approximately £116 million, ending United's hopes of signing the midfielder. The 22-year-old's arrival at the Etihad is now considered certain, narrowing United's options as they seek a long-term replacement for departing midfielder Casemiro.
Teddy Sheringham, who played for United between 1997 and 2001, believes the club should now prioritise Wharton. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, he said: "Adam Wharton missing out on the World Cup makes it a good time for Manchester United to get that deal done. I think Elliot Anderson is the better player but I do like the both of them."
Sheringham backs Wharton as ideal fit
Sheringham highlighted Wharton's suitability for United's style of play, particularly at Old Trafford. "[Michael] Carrick knows when you're Manchester United and you're playing at home at Old Trafford you need to camp in the other team's half. You need to box them in. You can't rely on hitting teams on the break when you're at Old Trafford but he will know that," he said.
"He's experienced that as a player and he will know what type of players it will take to do that again. It's not just about telling a person that this is what's expected when you haven't got the players to do it."
Sheringham added: "You can't do it without the right players. That's why he needs to go and sign someone like Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton who can win the ball high up the pitch, keep the play going in the final third, finding that pass to recycle it and keep the ball, and stop opponents getting out. That's tough to do. Hopefully he can go out and get the right players that can do that."
Ugarte suffers serious knee injury at World Cup
United's midfield plans have been further complicated by a severe knee ligament injury to Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan was carried off on a stretcher after twisting awkwardly during his country's World Cup group-stage match against Spain on Saturday. United later confirmed the grim news in an official statement.
The statement read: "Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday's World Cup group-stage match against Spain. Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale. Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way."
Ugarte, who joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, had struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford and was believed to be expendable this summer. However, any plans to offload him appear to be scuppered by what he described as "the most serious injury a footballer can face."
Ugarte vows to return stronger
In an Instagram post, Ugarte wrote: "A few days have passed since everything happened. Suffering the most serious injury a footballer can face in one of the most important matches in my country's history, and seeing it end this way without being able to stay on the pitch and support my teammates until the final whistle, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life."
He continued: "Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that's the case here. Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it finds a way to let you know. It's up to me to take the positives from this. Success in life is about starting again every time you fall."
Ugarte thanked the Uruguayan Football Association and Manchester United for their support, as well as his family, friends, and fans. "I'll be back stronger," he concluded.
