“He is so good on the ball”: Ex-United icon backs move for midfield metronome as Mainoo partner

Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is never far from the conversation, especially with Kobbie Mainoo now established as a key option. A fresh report has added a familiar voice to the debate, with former United defender Wes Brown offering a clear recommendation. According to Metro, Brown believes Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is the right profile to line up alongside Mainoo. The former Sunderland man’s view is shaped by what he saw first-hand in United’s recent meeting with Palace. Brown picks his preferred Mainoo partner The 46-year-old was full of praise for the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder, underlining his calmness in possession. He then went further to explain how the youngster stood out in that game. Brown, who also spent time at Blackburn, said Wharton is “so good on the ball” and believes his style would translate well at Old Trafford. He also remarked that the 22-year-old would be “a great asset for the club.” Furthermore, Brown highlighted the potential for “a great partnership” between Mainoo and his fellow compatriot. He pointed to Wharton’s all-round package, describing the midfielder as “very athletic” and “very complete.” Transfer talk around Wharton Any deal, however, would not be straightforward, with Brown acknowledging the price could be significant. Meanwhile, Palace are trying to secure Wharton’s long-term future with a new contract, but he has not yet agreed fresh terms. In addition, this uncertainty naturally fuels interest elsewhere, with several heavyweight clubs linked in recent months, including Real Madrid. Finally, United have also been linked with other midfield targets, including Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, as the club weighs up its options for the summer transfer window. Featured image Eddie Keogh via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.