Dwight Yorke says £60m star is ‘not the answer’ for Man Utd | Football

Dwight Yorke says he is not convinced Adam Wharton is ‘the answer’ in Manchester United’s search for a number six.

United spent in the region of £220million on new signings in the summer transfer window on the back of a wretched 2024/25 campaign, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and Senne Lammens all arriving through the doors at the Theatre of Dreams.

And despite a rocky start to the season, it appears United are beginning to reap the rewards of their heavy investment after going five matches unbeaten to rise to seventh in the Premier League table.

But Old Trafford bosses continue to scour the market with a view to further bolstering Ruben Amorim’s squad – and central midfield has been identified as an area of focus going forward.

It’s understood United’s hierarchy actively explored a deal for Carlos Baleba in the summer, but ultimately had to drop their pursuit after Brighton made it clear they had no intention of selling the young Cameroon international.

But the Red Devils have drawn up a shortlist of possible alternatives to Baleba, which is said to include Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Wharton.

While Forest are reportedly demanding in excess of £100m for Anderson, Wharton – who played a crucial role in Palace’s FA Cup triumph last season – is believed to be available for a fee of between £60-70m.

However, Yorke is yet to be convinced that Wharton has reached the necessary level to help steer United back to their former glory.

‘I’m not sure Adam Wharton is the answer. He’s still not quite there for me yet and that’s an area of concern we have to look to improve,’ the ex-United striker told Snabbare.

‘It is a gap in this Manchester United team. You look at the history behind the football club in its most successful years and they always had a fantastic number six in that position.’

According to Yorke, it is vitally important that United find a player who can ‘dictate the pace’ of a game from midfield.

‘Casemiro has been hit and miss at times and it’s a key part of your team. You listen to all the great managers, that central area of your midfield is always so important,’ he added.

‘It’s a tough gig that one to find the right players and I think that’s why they’re struggling. They haven’t got that player who can set the floor of the game, as I always call it, and dictate the pace, who defends but passes the ball forwards, and can see the pass.

‘These types of players are rare which surprises me as on the face of it it’s not the most difficult job in the world but it’s the most crucial.’

Yorke – a member of United’s treble-winning squad of 1999 – joked that Michael Carrick could probably still do a job at the heart of Ruben Amorim’s midfield.

‘Who I would like to see in that position more? I can’t think, honestly, because there’s too much hype around some of these players,’ he continued.

‘Bring back Michael Carrick, maybe? There we go. He’d have done a job in this team!’

Wharton has been keen to distance himself from any speculation over his future, with Palace looking to propel themselves up the table after a mixed start to the new top-flight campaign.

Asked if he had been affected by incessant gossip linking him with a high-profile transfer move away from Selhurst Park, Wharton told The Athletic: ‘Not really, to be honest. I don’t really look into it or think too much about it.

‘There’s always rumours floating about on social media and things like this. Is it true? Is it not true? You tell me!”

‘Honestly, I get my friends all messaging me or my family, my brothers. Everyone will message me and they’ll be like, “Oh, is this true? This club is interested.”