It is no secret that Manchester City are in desperate need of a midfielder in January to fortify their midfield. That fact has been clear to see throughout City’s recent seven-game winless run. The champions have been linked to a host of players recently. One of those has been Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. But based on a new report it appears that he will be unattainable in January. That isn’t an unexpected development as he did loom as more of a summer target for Manchester City.
Sami Mokbel has reported for the Daily Mail that Crystal Palace have no intention of selling Adam Wharton in January. Furthermore, Mokbel reports that Manchester City are amongst a host of top clubs monitoring the progress of Wharton. Mokbel goes on to report that Crystal Palace are determined to keep hold of their young midfielder in January. But Mokbel does add that it is unclear at this stage if a sizable offer over Crystal Palace’s valuation of Wharton would see them sell their prized asset next month.
Another midfielder appears to be off-limits for Manchester City as they search for a midfielder to add to their stocks.
Based on Sami Mokbel’s report it does appear that Adam Wharton is off the table as a January target for Manchester City. Understandably, Crystal Palace would want to keep hold of Wharton. Palace are currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table and wouldn’t want to weaken their squad given their precarious position.
But for me, Adam Wharton loomed as more of a summer target for Manchester City. He looks to be a player who’d be more suited to arriving at the world champions in the summer when City’s rebuild looks set to begin in earnest. I believe that Manchester City need a more established midfielder to fill the void left by Rodri’s knee injury. At this stage of his career, it doesn’t seem that Wharton is suited to the role that he’d be tasked to play if he were to arrive at the world champions in January.
That would mean that Manchester City would be more likely to target an experienced midfielder in January. One such player who looked to be an ideal signing City is Atalanta midfielder Ederson. But Danny Rust and Dean Jones have previously reported for GIVEMESPORT that Atalanta have no intention of selling the Brazilian in January. This report, coupled with Mokbel’s latest Adam Wharton update, does make it seem that two of City’s potential targets are off the table in January.
Summary
It remains to be seen who City will move for in January. But you do get the sense that they will move for a midfielder. It just remains to be seen who that could be. Especially now that it appears that Wharton and Ederson are unavailable. Perhaps a Manchester City move for Martin Zubimendi is now looming large. Jack Gaughan has previously reported for the Daily Mail that he is a target of the world champions. Based on recent reports perhaps he is the man Manchester City will target next month.