Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with Manchester United also making an approach for the highly rated England international.
The 22-year-old has continued to impress at Selhurst Park, attracting attention from several of the Premier League’s biggest clubs. His rapid development has raised questions over whether Palace can keep hold of him for much longer.
The Eagles have already lost a number of important players in recent transfer windows, including Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and Marc Guehi to Manchester City. Wharton could now become the latest Palace star to attract a major offer.
According to Indy Kaila, Manchester United made an enquiry about Wharton yesterday before Liverpool reportedly followed up with their own contact this morning.
At this stage, neither approach is believed to have progressed into formal negotiations, with Palace expected to resist any attempt to prise away one of their key players.
What happens next for Wharton?
Wharton remains an important part of Palace’s plans, and losing another influential player would be a major setback, particularly following the departure of former manager Oliver Glasner.
With the new season approaching, Palace may be reluctant to weaken their squad further. However, the club have previously shown that substantial offers for their stars can be difficult to reject.
If either Liverpool or Manchester United submits a serious bid, Palace could once again be faced with a difficult decision.
Who needs Wharton most?
Manchester United have already added Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to their midfield this summer, but there are still doubts over whether those additions fully address their needs.
Santos is still developing his experience at the highest level, while Tielemans brings greater experience but is further into his career. Wharton could provide United with a younger midfielder who already understands the demands of Premier League football and has considerable room to develop.
Liverpool could also see the value in signing Wharton, particularly because of his age, ability and long-term potential. However, the Reds may have more pressing concerns in other areas of the squad, especially defence and attack.
With both clubs now reportedly showing interest, Wharton’s future could become one of the key transfer stories to follow as the window moves towards its conclusion.
