MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly plotting a shock £60million bid for Adam Wharton.

The Crystal Palace star has been a vital cog in the machine in the South London outfit’s impressive 2025.

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Reuters

Ruben Amorim is on the lookout for a replacement to Kobbie Mainoo[/caption]

Wharton, 21, joined the Eagles in January 2024 from Blackburn Rovers in a transfer worth £22m.

He quickly cemented himself in the first team and has risen to be one of the most promising midfielders in the English game.

The Daily Star have claimed manager Ruben Amorim has been keeping close tabs on the England international.

The Portuguese boss will be looking to add to his midfield options next summer as Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro could both leave.

The report adds that Amorim thinks Wharton has the ability to be a success at Old Trafford.

The club believe a bid of £60m would be enough to tempt Palace and Wharton into accepting the move.

Since making the switch to Selhurst Park, Wharton has made 53 appearances and picked up six assists.

He helped the club to the FA Cup trophy last term and the Community Shield before the current season started.

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Fans are praying to see Wharton at the Red Devils after finding out he has completed every take-on he has attempted this season.

Wharton has already caught the eye of United legend Rio Ferdinand.

The retired defender insisted during the summer that he should be the club’s midfield target over Carlos Baleba.

United were priced out of a move for the Cameroonian international after Brighton and Hove Albion slapped a £115m valuation on him.

Ferdinand, however, sees Wharton as a similar player to United legend Michael Carrick.

He said on his YouTube channel: “We’ve been talking about Baleba, he’s been the hot topic for the last month or so, but before that, Adam Wharton was one of the guys I was saying.

Mark Robinson - The Sun

“He’s the nearest to a Michael Carrick type, who’s a controller, who can play, who plays forward from that deeper line position at times.

“He can be an eight if you need him to be and can run on at times if need be, but he’s more of a conductor and can control things.

“I watched him in a couple of games last season against big teams like Man City and Liverpool, and he looks unfazed.

“He looks ready for a big occasion.

“He enjoys pressure, can play under pressure, and the game kind of slows down when the ball is around him.

“I love him. I think he’s a fantastic footballer.”

Wharton has one England cap to date but was omitted from Thomas Tuchel‘s latest squad.

He revealed that the German coach contacted him over the squad picks but admitted he was not “too fussed”.

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Wharton has just one England cap to date[/caption]

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Thomas Tuchel did not pick him in his most recent squad[/caption]

Wharton said: “He just gave me a message saying I’m playing well, I’m close and I deserve to be there but he’s going to stick with the same team.

“That’s football, I’m not too fussed about that.

“I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it’s not the end of the world as there’s another camp next month.

“My focus is on Palace and if that goes well then England is just a bonus.

“Nothing is expected. England have some top players and he’s got a lot of players to choose from.

“No matter who he picks, someone is not going to get in and there will be a fuss about it.

“I can’t sit here and cry about it, this is football and I’m happy playing for Palace and getting minutes.

“I’ll keep knocking on the door and if I’m in, I’m in and if not, I’ll carry on.”

United will likely face competition in the race for Wharton’s signature next summer.

The likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid have all been linked with the Lancashire-born star.

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OPENING my eyes, I saw the cuts and bruises on my body and the familiar feeling of dread set in – because yet again, I’d got so drunk at my local pub, I had absolutely no recollection of getting home. 

It was September 2021 and, at 40, I should have known better. 

Louise Muir-Sage

Louise Muir-Sage, 44, hid her alcohol addiction behind a confident smile before getting sober and rebuilding her life[/caption]

Louise Muir-Sage

I’d always used alcohol as an emotional crutch, but since my seven-year marriage had ended the previous month, I’d started going to the local pub every night to drink with the regulars so I never had to be alone. 

I’d always say I was just having one glass of wine, but once I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. 

I’d laugh off my drunken shenanigans, but really, I dreaded waking up and having to piece together the night before, often having to tend to my cuts and bruises from falling over and beg people to take down embarrassing photos of me on social media. 

‘CHASE THE FEELING’

I spent £10,000 on drink in eight months, taking out pay-day loans, having escalated to two bottles of gin a night at home alone.

However, I still didn’t think I was an alcoholic – because I didn’t wake up craving a drink. How wrong I was. 

I’ve always enjoyed alcohol. I remember my first sip of White Lightning cider in 1997 when I was 15.

After that, I moved on to wine, beer, then brandy. I’m naturally quiet and alcohol made me feel happy, carefree and confident.

I was forever chasing that feeling and drank more over the years as my tolerance built up. 

My drinking caused me to drop out of college in 1999, as I was always too hungover to attend.

Then, when I began working full-time aged 18 as an accounts assistant, I drank at least three large glasses of wine every lunchtime in the pub with colleagues.

Nobody batted an eyelid and, as I was never drunk, it didn’t cross my mind that I had a problem. 

Living at home, I was careful never to let my dad or stepmum see me intoxicated, and when I moved into a shared house, I hid how much I was drinking, doing it in secret before going out for the evening. 

‘I ruined my best friend’s hen do because I was so paralytic’ 

Soon, my drinking was out of hand and having detrimental effects. In my early 20s, I got into an abusive relationship with a man who the memory of still terrifies me.

At 23, while on holiday, I screamed at my stepmum for no reason, in front of hundreds of people, which hurt her so much.

Aged 24, I was on a night out when my drink was spiked. Feeling out of it, two men offered to walk me home, then sexually assaulted me in an alleyway, knowing I was in no state to scream for help.

I reported the attack to police, who arrested the men, but due to a lack of evidence, no charges were brought. I drank to forget what had happened. 

Alcohol was also making me gain weight and my skin had a grey pallor, but still nobody knew I was fighting demons.

For years, I drank if I was sad or angry, and I drank to celebrate when I was happy. 

Being drunk led to so many embarrassing incidents that I’m now deeply ashamed of, especially the fact that I ruined my best friend’s hen do in 2006, when I had to be sent home in a taxi because I was paralytic. 

In 2008, aged 27, I met a man through a mutual friend, who I ended up marrying.

He didn’t drink alcohol, except on holiday, so I hid a lot of my drinking from him. I always went to work smiling, and put on a front with friends, but deep down I was unhappy in my marriage and was prescribed antidepressants. 

Alcohol was also making me gain weight and my skin had a grey pallor, but still nobody knew I was fighting demons.

While I realised I drank a lot, it never crossed my mind I was an alcoholic, despite my family history.

My nan had died an alcoholic and my biological mum, who’d walked out on me and my dad when I was just 18 months old, was also an alcoholic.

Louise Muir-Sage

Growing up, I’d decided I didn’t want children, because my biggest fear was that if I had them, I would walk out and leave them like my mum did. 

After my marriage ended, because we realised we’d be happier apart, my drinking reached its worst point.

I made sure I only saw my best friend during the daytime, so she never saw me drunk.

I only had to go to work once a week for my job as a weight-loss consultant, when I was probably still drunk, but I managed to put on a front, and then went to the pub afterwards. 

In early 2022, I realised I’d spent £3,500 in in one month on alcohol, and I worked out I’d spent £50,000 on drink over the years, leading to £38,000 of debt. 

That April, I was looking at an Instagram account of someone who’d been sober for more than 200 days.

It triggered something in me and I messaged the woman: “How did you know alcohol had become a problem?”

She replied asking: “Does having one drink always mean having two? Can you not stop at two drinks? And does your behaviour change around drink?” 

When I replied yes to all the questions, she suggested I get help. I worked out I’d had 170 units of alcohol over three days, and went to an alcohol support group the next day.

It was full of normal-looking people, but some had lost houses, jobs and relationships, and it hit me hard that this would be me if I didn’t stop drinking.

I admitted to myself for the first time that I was an alcoholic, and broke down in tears. 

After 22 years of letting alcohol control my life, I went sober. To do so, I had to avoid everything, shutting myself away in my house and stopping going to the pub and socialising.

I very quickly learned that the people I had thought were my friends in the pub weren’t, because not a single one of them knocked on my door.

If you ever think alcohol might be a problem for you, it probably is. I urge you to go to an AA meeting, because you’ll either leave thinking: ‘I’ve got a problem’, or know that you’re OK. 

I moved to a quieter area for a fresh start, away from the pub. 

I am now three-and-a-half years sober, and I’m finally happy with who I am.

Of course, it hasn’t been easy. There have been difficult times when I’m tempted to drink, but instead, I text my AA sponsor and the craving soon dies down.

But I know that if I were to go out today and drink, I’d be right back to square one. 

I’m now engaged to a lovely man called Travis. When we met, I told him everything and he’s been so supportive. 

I’ve also started a business, Something Kind Of Woo, an independent crystal shop, which I’m so proud of, and I’ve managed to pay off all my debt. 

When I told my family, they had no idea I’d been an alcoholic for so long.

If you ever think alcohol might be a problem for you, it probably is. I urge you to go to an AA meeting, because you’ll either leave thinking: “I’ve got a problem”, or know that you’re OK. 

I don’t regret my alcoholism, because if I hadn’t gone through what I did, I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

I’m just glad my message to a stranger forced me to admit I had a problem. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.  

• Visit Somethingkindofwoo.co.uk. Find support at Alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.

Louise Muir-Sage

WE have rounded up some terrific travel competitions to enter before Christmas, with some offering prizes like holidays worth up to £2,000.

There are loads of free trips on offer, Forestry England memberships, £1,000 gift cards and stays in luxury five-star hotels – the trick is knowing where to look and how to enter. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you…

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Win three nights in a hotel in Baqueira Beret in Spain for the 2025-26 ski season[/caption]

Forestryengland.uk

Forestry England are celebrating the launch of their country-wide Stick Man trail, teaming up with Micro Scooters to give away a forest adventure and camping prize[/caption]

Win a Stick Man and Micro Scooters Bundle

The prize: Forestry England are celebrating the launch of their country-wide Stick Man trail, teaming up with Micro Scooters to give away a special forest adventure and camping prize bundle.

One winner will receive: a family set of Micro scooters worth £750, a Forestry England membership worth £94, a two-night camping stay at your choice of one of Forestry England’s campsites and a selection of Stick Man toys and keyrings.

Closing date: January 14 2026

How to enter: Head to the competition page and provide your name and address in an online form.

Win a ski mini break including lift passes and ski hire

The prize: Three nights in a hotel in Baqueira Beret in Spain for the 2025-26 ski season, plus four-day ski passes and four days of equipment rental for two people. 

The resort is located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in Spain’s Catalonia region.

It is one of the best-known in Spain, with one of the country’s biggest ski areas.

This prize is for the 2025/2026 ski season and does not include flights but is worth up to £1,500.

Closing date: December 4 2025.

How to enter: Answer a few easy questions on the competition page and subscribe to Snow Magazine’s newsletter.

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Win a trip on the German Market Christmas cruise on Fred, Olsen’s Balmoral ship[/caption]

Win a six-night cruise for two

The prize: Cruise line Fred. Olsen has teamed up with the Simply Christmas craft fair at NEC Birmingham to offer a free cruise.

One lucky winner and an adult guest will be welcomed aboard The German Market Christmas cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral ship.

You will sail from Southampton on December 16 2026 for a six-night cruise, returning to Southampton on December 22 2026, just in time for next Christmas.

The prize winner and guest will share an ocean-view cabin, enjoy full board dining, free gratuities, and free selected drinks with lunch and dinner in the ship’s restaurants.

The cruise starts with a day of sailing, where you can relax and enjoy the programme of events and activities onboard, in a prize worth around £1,600.

Closing date: December 31 2025

How to enter: Fill in the online form. All travellers must be aged 18 or over at the time of sailing, hold a valid passport and have appropriate travel insurance. The prize excludes travel to and from Southampton Cruise Terminal. The closing date for entries is 23:59 on December 31 2025.

Win a luxury hotel and spa stay

The prize: The Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa and Discover Rutland are giving away the chance to win a weekend at a luxury hotel and spa in the UK for two, worth £1,000.

Set on the shores of Rutland Water, Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa offers both countryside charm and modern luxury.

One lucky winner will enjoy a lavish overnight escape in the Windsor Suite, complete with dinner and a bottle of wine, wellbeing treatments, breakfast and champagne touches throughout your stay.

Closing date: December 31, 2025

How to enter: Go to the Discover Rutland site and enter your details for the prize draw.

Win a travel gift card worth £1,000

The prize: A gift card worth £1000 to spend on Tour Compass travel services, which include tours to Costa Rica, Thailand, the USA and Bali.

How to enter: This is an ongoing giveaway when you sign up to the Tour Compass newsletter.

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Tucked between mountains and Loch Torridon on Scotland’s west coast, The Torridon is a former hunting lodge built in the 1860s[/caption]

Win a Scottish Highlands getaway

The prize: A three-night stay for two at The Torridon, including breakfast each morning and dinner in restaurant 1887.

Tucked between mountains and Loch Torridon on Scotland’s west coast, The Torridon is a former hunting lodge built in the 1860s.

As the UK’s most northerly five-star hotel, The Torridon offers a unique and luxury Highland experience.

Recently voted The Best Place to Stay in Scotland, the hotel has whisky sampling and views across the dramatic landscape.

Closing date: December 31 2025

How to enter: Click on The Torridon competition page and answer a simple question about the hotel’s offering.

Win a cruise with Marella Cruises

The prize: A five -night cruise on Marella Explorer, departing on November 26 2026 for five nights, for two people worth around £2,000.

The winning prize includes flying into Malaga on a TUI flight from either London Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow Airport only and back from Tenerife.

Closing date: February 28, 2026

How to enter: Sign up to the Marella Cruises newsletter.

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JOEY O’BRIEN revealed that honouring their champions’ badge was all Shelbourne were ever going to do at Tallaght Stadium on Friday. The reigning champions were excellent in a dominant first half to frustrate champions-elect Shamrock Rovers and deprive the Hoops of the point they still now need to clinch the title. Midfield boss Kerr McInroy...

The Manguzi Hospital Nursing School Late Application 2025/2026 | Form, Requirments & Dates We are pleased to inform you about The Manguzi Hospital Nursing School Late Application 2025/2026 | Form, Requirments & Dates Here’s your last chance. Manguzi Hospital Nursing School Late Online applications for 2025/2026 are now open!!! Download the university prospectus, and application forms and also apply for […]

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