John Obi Mikel predicts £80m star will join Man Utd ahead of Chelsea

Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel believes Adam Wharton will leave Crystal Palace to complete a transfer move to Manchester United next summer.

Wharton joined Palace in an £18million move from boyhood team Blackburn Rovers back in 2024 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the most sought-after central midfielders in Premier League football.

The 22-year-old proved an instrumental figure in the club’s success under Oliver Glasner, with the Eagles clinching the FA Cup, the Europa Conference League and last year’s Community Shield.

Over the last 12 months, though, Wharton’s future has been the subject of incessant speculation and there were rumours throughout the summer that the England international could follow Glasner out the exit door at Selhurst Park.

United have long been credited with a strong interest in Wharton but Palace were insistent that the former Blackburn man would not be sold unless they received an eye-watering offer of between £80-100m for their prized possession.

It meant Wharton stayed put as the transfer deadline came and went, with the Red Devils instead strengthening their midfield with the addition of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba from Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton respectively.

But even after United’s big spending in the middle of the park, ex-Chelsea midfielder Obi Mikel expects the Old Trafford giants to return for Wharton again in a year’s time.

‘I love him! I love Adam Wharton, I’m a big, big fan,’ Obi Mikel said during a live Q&A with AFTV’s Robbie Lyle broadcast on The Obi One Podcast.

‘I think he’s going to go places, though, I think next season he will leave Crystal Palace.

‘I think they want to keep him for one more season and I see him going to Manchester United next season.’

Asked if he would like to see Wharton join Xabi Alonso’s ranks at Stamford Bridge, Obi Mikel replied: ‘Listen, I’d want him at Chelsea.

‘If he comes to Chelsea, absolutely fine, but there are so many good players in the Premier League.

‘It comes down to: who finds the right formula that works for them? And I think that’s what we [Chelsea] need to find.

‘Arsenal are fine, they’re settled, they know how they play, they know the system.

‘For us [Chelsea], we have a new manager, we have some new players, we just need to make sure we start clicking.’

Obi Mikel has been encouraged by Chelsea’s start under Alonso and feels his former club have a ‘slim chance’ of winning the Premier League this season.

However, the ex-Nigeria international believes Arsenal, the reigning champions, are the ‘team to beat’ in the English top flight.

‘I can see there’s something that Xabi Alonso wants to create, I like that we play with three at the back,’ Obi Mikel said.

‘It makes us a bit more solid but Levi Colwill needs to stay fit, Reece James, as well, needs to stay fit.

‘If they’re able to do that then we have a chance, we have a slim chance, but I don’t think we’ll win the league this season.

‘I think we need two or three more players that can take us there. Next season, yes, we might compete.

‘Arsenal are the team to beat this season, definitely.’

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