Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has suggested that Adam Wharton, a rising talent at Crystal Palace, is likely to leave the club and join Manchester United next summer. Wharton, 22, moved to Palace in a £18 million deal from Blackburn Rovers in 2024 and has since become one of the most coveted central midfielders in the Premier League. He played a crucial role in Palace’s recent successes, including winning the FA Cup, the Europa Conference League, and the Community Shield under manager Oliver Glasner. Despite his impact, Wharton’s future has been a topic of speculation for over a year. Rumors suggested he might follow Glasner out of the club during the summer transfer window. While Manchester United have shown strong interest in the England international, Palace has been firm in their stance, stating they would only consider selling Wharton for a staggering £80-100 million. This price tag proved too high for United, who instead bolstered their midfield with players like Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba from other clubs. Despite United’s recent additions, Obi Mikel remains confident that the Red Devils will make another move for Wharton in the coming year. During a live Q&A with AFTV’s Robbie Lyle on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel praised Wharton and predicted his departure from Palace. “I think he’s going to go places,” Mikel said. “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.” When asked if he would prefer Wharton to join Chelsea, Mikel acknowledged the appeal but emphasized that the decision would depend on what works best for the player and the club. “I’d want him at Chelsea,” he said. “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.”