Wes Brown names ‘perfect’ midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo that Man Utd must sign

Wes Brown believes Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton would be the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield.

United hope to finish the season with Champions League qualification before switching focus to another pivotal summer transfer window.

Casemiro will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of the campaign with finding a replacement for the Brazil international a top priority.

With Manuel Ugarte another who could move on, United may even seek to bring in two midfield players with options beyond Michael Carrick’s current pairing rather slim.

Kobbie Mainoo has starred alongside Casemiro since Carrick took the reins having spent the first half of the season frozen out of the team by Ruben Amorim. Having been keen to leave as recently as January, Mainoo’s prospects at the club are bright once again.

Whoever United end up signing this summer could very well play alongside Mainoo for years to come. Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson is thought to be a top target while United have already discussed a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

Wharton is another played admired. Brown, who won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two Champions Leagues with United, is a huge fan of the former Blackburn Rovers youngster, seeing plenty of potential in a long-term partnership between him and Mainoo for both club and country.

‘I love Adam. When we played Palace the other day I made myself have a good look at him and he is so good on the ball,’ Brown told Metro via BetMGM.

‘That would be a great asset for the club. He would cost a lot of money but it will be tough for Crystal Palace to keep another of their top players. But that position does need filling. Him and Kobbie could be a great partnership.’

Palace have been stripped of their most valued assets over the last six months with Eberechi Eze joining Arsenal last summer with Marc Guehi leaving for Manchester City in January.

Guehi in particular has stepped up to the new challenge, immediately slotting into Pep Guardiola’s defence as City seek to chase Arsenal down in the Premier League title race.

While he will not come cheap, Wharton could be the next to leave.

‘I just look at Adam Wharton and he’s very good on the ball, very athletic, very complete,’ Brown said.

‘With the quality of players they have had, Palace should be mid-table at least. You look at Eze at Arsenal and Guehi at Man City now and he is really showing what he is all about. Wharton can hopefully do the same.’