Saha: MU can throw 100M at Wharton, but they need to be more cautious

Former Manchester United player and pundit Louis Saha has suggested that the club may allocate the bulk of their substantial transfer budget next summer towards securing Adam Walton. He believes the player is still young and that the club must exercise caution when making such high-profile signings.

Under Rúben Amorim's stewardship, the Red Devils appear to have turned a corner, extending their unbeaten run to five matches following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

A more coherent transfer strategy is gradually bearing fruit, with summer signings Sennes Lamens, Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all delivering impressive performances of late.

However, the midfield engine under Rúben Amorim remains in its formative stages, with Manchester United expected to make significant investments in midfield over the next two transfer windows.

Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo have become fringe players, with the latter likely to attract renewed interest from Napoli in January.

Meanwhile, the long-term futures of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, currently Ruben's preferred midfield pairing, remain uncertain, prompting Manchester United to begin scouting potential successors.

Brighton's Carlos Baleba has been placed under close observation by United, while England international Jordan Henderson is also highly regarded by the club.

"Manchester United could sign Adam Wharton for £100 million next summer," former United striker Louis Saha told OLBG. "Adam Wharton is still very young, and I believe clubs must exercise caution when making such high-profile signings."

"I feel the current transfer market is extremely dangerous for clubs, as you witness players' valuations skyrocketing only for unexpected outcomes to follow."

"Moisés Caicedo took considerable time to establish himself at Chelsea, so high-profile signings often come with inflated expectations that can sometimes backfire.You must truly look beyond appearances, which is no easy feat; the current transfer market is indeed complex and unpredictable."

People will throw around astronomical transfer fees, and agents are only too happy to see it, but I don't agree with this trend.

Moreover, Saha expressed a degree of sympathy for Mainoo—the young midfielder has made just eight appearances this season, with his sole start coming in the League Cup defeat against Grimsby.

"Kobe Mainoo needs to maintain his belief and show confidence," Saha remarked. "I believe the challenges he faces are more physical than technical."

"His match tempo requires improvement—that's the only shortcoming I've observed. Beyond that, his footballing intelligence is remarkably sharp."

"He needs to be more involved in attack, creating chances, and clearly showing aggression. That's a demand placed on every player in the squad, not just him."

"However, he does face competition and challenges, and sometimes that competition might not be entirely fair. But I believe it's beneficial for his development."