Manchester United’s academy has been known for producing numerous top-level talents over the years, subsequently helping the club win 13 Premier League titles.
Sir Alex Ferguson is the man to thank for such glory, subsequently able to build a successful side, mainly relying upon players who came through the ranks at Old Trafford.
He was famous for integrating the Class of ’92, with the sextet making over 3000 combined appearances for the Red Devils first-team squad.
However, Ruben Amorim’s current first-team squad only includes three academy graduates in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, Tom Heaton and Tyler Fredricson.
The manager also wants to bolster his own first-team squad with further English quality, as seen by his attempts to land Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton this summer.
Man Utd’s hunt for Wharton this summer
Throughout the summer transfer window, United made a beeline to land a new central midfielder to help bolster the middle of Amorim’s side for 2025/26 and beyond.
Their pursuit led them to England international Wharton, even entering talks with Oliver Glasner’s side to try and complete a deal for the 21-year-old’s signature.
However, a transfer fee of around £100m was mooted for the youngster’s services, a figure that was ultimately too much given the £200m already splashed on other areas of the squad.
Such a move would’ve been an excellent one, especially if he would’ve been able to replicate his numbers from last season, which helped the Eagles win the FA Cup.
Wharton ranked in the 93rd percentile for progressive passes completed per 90 (7.3) and the 86th percentile for passes into the final third per 90 (5.3).
Whilst ball-playing is obviously his strength, the former Blackburn Rovers star also showcased his tremendous ability of being able to regain the ball for his side.
He ranked in the 93rd percentile for recoveries made per 90 (7.1), along with the 81st percentile for interceptions made per 90 (1.4) – possessing numerous qualities that would’ve improved Amorim’s side.
However, Wharton will remain a case of what could’ve been, but they could’ve had their own version of the superstar had they kept hold of another youngster.
The former United star who could’ve been Amorim’s own Wharton
Selling youngsters too prematurely has often been an issue for United over recent seasons, as seen by the decision to offload Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest in 2023.
The Red Devils parted ways with the Swede for just £15m, allowing the winger to get valuable game time – subsequently racking up 11 goals and 21 assists in his two years at the City Ground.
Such numbers saw him make a £60m move to Newcastle United this summer – leaving the Reds for four times more than they paid for his signature just two years prior.
Another similar scenario could rear its head again in the future, after Amorim’s side agreed to sell 18-year-old midfielder Zach Baumann to Norwich City on deadline day.
The deal saw the Ukrainian youngster leave on a free transfer, but it does include future clauses which could see the Red Devils gain some money for his signature.
He’s been a regular at various youth levels for United over the last couple of years, featuring in five different competitions – including the U18 Premier League, where he scored once and registered five assists.
Baumann, who’s also been labelled “exceptional” by one analyst, has drawn comparisons to Wharton by the Daily Mail’s Manchester United correspondent, Nathan Salt.
U18 Premier League
13
6
Premier League 2
3
0
UEFA Youth League
1
0
FA Youth Cup
2
0
Total:
19
6
He claims that the teenager is superb in possession – often offering a composed head – being able to pick out forward passes, just as the Palace star has in recent times.
Such talents have been evident for the Red Devils’ youth teams in recent times, producing numerous incredible passes which have contributed to his impressive assist tally.
Another analyst has previously touched on his impressive nature with the ball at his feet – with the Red Devils evidently making a huge mistake in allowing the teenager to depart Old Trafford.
Given his tender age, Baumann still has a long way to go before he can get anywhere near the levels produced by Wharton within England’s top-flight.
However, his recent departure could see a huge mistake being made down the line, with the fans potentially having to watch another talent flourish away from the Theatre of Dreams.