"If it’s Manchester United, you add 20% to the transfer fee" - Expert claims Red Devils will have to pay £100 million to sign midfielder
Manchester United will have to pay £100 million to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, according to finance expert Professor Rob Wilson. He says that the transfer fee rises as soon as the Red Devils show interest in a player.
Speaking to OLBG, Wilson said that Manchester United don't need Wharton because of Kobiee Mainoo but would be open to getting the Englishman midfielder as well. However, he believes that the Red Devils will have to pay over the top, as the fee rises by 20% as soon as they enter the race. He said:
"Manchester United would spend huge money on Adam Wharton without blinking, because you've got the kind of commercial upside alongside the playing upside.
"United have also got Kobbie Mainoo coming through as well, so being able to put together two of the finest young English talents in the same team is really exciting from a sporting perspective. That then has a major impact on the kind of off field opportunities for them."
Wilson added:
"For Wharton to maximise himself and his brand, it might be that he needs to move at some point, but Crystal Palace would be pretty keen to keep him.
"I don't think he's in the kind of 100 million plus bracket just yet, but that value from Crystal Palace might just stop the deal from happening. The dynamics that you typically see are club premiums, so if it's Manchester United, you add 20% to the transfer fee immediately."
The expert continued:
"Then you have the English player premium as well, which probably adds another 30% on top of that.
"So you can easily double that transfer value as a result of those. At Manchester United you also have the INEOS ownership who favour those kind of young British talents. I think they've made that fairly obvious."
United are looking to sign a replacement for Casemiro this summer. The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr keen on signing him.
Manchester United will have to beat Manchester City for Adan Wharton
The Red Devils are not alone in the race for Adam Wharton even though he moved to Crystal Palace just six months ago. Manchester City have also set their sights on the midfielder, as per the Evening Standard.
The 20-year-old has been in excellent form this season and has got a call-up to the England squad. He's also on the plane to Germany this month for EURO 2024 in Germany.
Chelsea were also interested in the midfielder in January but opted against a move. Crystal Palace eventually swooped in and signed the Blackburn Rovers star for a reported £18 million.