Is underrated Adam Wharton better than Man Utd wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo?

Tom Weber

• Updated: 7 May 2024 10:28 BST
• 13 min read

Adam Wharton is seemingly getting better every week.

It was seen as something of a transfer coup when Crystal Palace managed to snap up the 20-year-old from Championship side Blackburn Rovers for roughly €21 million in January. After all, the Eagles had beaten Chelsea to the signature of the in-demand midfielder.

Since then, Wharton has gone somewhat under the radar. Perhaps it is due to the fact that he needed a few games to find his feet in the Premier League or because, well, he plays for Crystal Palace. Since Oliver Glasner took charge of his first game on February 24, however, Wharton has been undeniably brilliant and he seems to be growing into his role with each passing match.

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Wharton has featured in every single game since arriving - not bad for a 20-year-old playing his first-ever Premier League campaign - and his influence on Palace is increasing steadily. Glasner's side have been brilliant since the Austrian's arrival and the all-action Wharton is evidently well-suited to his new coach's high-octane style.

This was particularly evident when the Eagles put Man Utd to the sword on Monday, comfortably strolling to a 4-0 victory.

Wharton vs Mainoo

Wharton's intensity and tenacity make him perfect for the way Glasner wants his midfield to operate and the youngster is certainly an excellent ball-winner. However, it would be a great disservice to just view him as a destroyer. Wharton's ability in possession is not to be underestimated and the youngster has already notched two assists for the Eagles.

Against the Red Devils, Wharton played a crucial role in overwhelming Man Utd's weak midfield of Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo, the latter of course now one of England's great hopes in that part of the field. The 19-year-old did not have his best game, though there is an argument to be made that Erik ten Hag is misusing the teenager.

Mainoo's skillset seems ideal for a more advanced role rather than the box-to-box tasks he is currently asked to carry out. This makes it difficult to compare him to Wharton, who is evidently better in the more defensive facets of the game, while Mainoo excels at carrying the ball and operating in tight spaces.

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It is conceivable that the two could actually play alongside each other in England's midfield in the future. Consulting analytics firm SciSports, we can see that, despite Wharton's stunning form in recent weeks, Mainoo is still rated slightly higher than his elder counterpart.

SciSports analyse hundreds of data points to accumulate a SciSkill rating as well as a player's potential based on said rating and Mainoo comes out on top in both areas. The Man Utd wonderkid has a current ability of 73 and a potential of 106.4, whereas Wharton clocks in at a score of 70.1 and an upside of 103.6.

Potential, of course, is something of a vaporous concept and contingent upon many undeterminable factors and SciSports acknowledge that Wharton could also become a better player than Mainoo if he develops well. Either way, it is blatantly obvious that England have two brilliant midfielders for the future on their hands.