A lot of eyes will be on [Chelsea this summer](https://readchelsea.com/2026/06/01/chelsea-sign-winger-real-madrid-ace-ac-milan-forward/) and what they do in the summer transfer window. The expectation is for the club to improve. They need to, after finishing 10th in the league, without a trophy and not qualifying for any European competition. That is simply not acceptable at Stamford Bridge. But unfortunately, it is starting to feel like the norm.
Now, there are several areas of the pitch where Chelsea could look to strengthen this summer. Xabi Alonso will come in as the new manager and will come with his own style of football. So, some tweaks and adjustments might be needed in positions where the Blues are strong.
One of them could very well be their midfield. In fact, with Enzo Fernandez looking keen on a summer exit, it might end up becoming a priority position. Interestingly, they have a Premier League midfield maestro on their radar.
Chelsea appear to be one of the frontrunners in the race to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace. According to [TEAMtalk](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/chelsea-strong-contenders-sign-adam-wharton-man-utd-dont-want), Dean Jones said about the situation:
> ‘The Eagles do not want to lose the player and hope he chooses to stay and lead them into a Europa League campaign next season. Yet Chelsea are among the clubs monitoring his position very closely.
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> ‘The Blues have consistently scouted Wharton throughout the season and are considered one of the strongest contenders to make a move to test the situation.
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> ‘Chelsea are actively searching for midfield reinforcements this summer.
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> ‘While speculation continues around the future of Enzo Fernandez, sources indicate the club’s interest in Wharton is unrelated to whether the Argentine remains at Stamford Bridge.
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> ‘Chelsea’s pursuit is perhaps closer connected to uncertainty surrounding players such as Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos.’
Manchester United were heavily linked with a move for Wharton not too long ago. But it seems like they might have dropped out of that race. That makes things easier for Chelsea.
Now, it remains to be seen if Chelsea end up pushing to sign Wharton this summer or not. It does not seem like Crystal Palace would want to see him depart.
That being said, ultimately, it might come down to Wharton. It almost always is down to the players when it comes to modern football. If he decides to leave, Crystal Palace might be better placed looking for the best offer rather than trying to convince him to stay.
Would Wharton be a good signing for Chelsea though? Or would he be another one of their high-potential signings that does not work out, ones the club have become famous for making under BlueCo?
With the ball at his feet, Wharton is phenomenal. There are zero doubts about that. His passing range is immense. You give him a split-second and he has the ability to play a through pass that will take out the entire defence. Or he can lob one over the top, and it will land perfectly at the feet of the one making the run behind. It is very easy to see why someone like Alonso would appreciate his game.
He is also left-footed, which does open up all sorts of new passing angles and opportunities. It also makes it more difficult for the opposition to defend.
The question marks are not over Wharton’s ability. That has never been the case. They are over the physical side of his game. In an increasingly physical style of football, is it even possible to build a midfield around Wharton? Or does he end up being the one who gets outrun and outmuscled?
That is the question many teams might be asking themselves. That is why he is not already playing with one of the truly elite clubs. In a different era, he would have been.
Then again, Crystal Palace have won with Wharton as a central figure. They have won the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the Conference League within the space of 12 months. So, the worries might be a bit out of proportion.
At the end of the day, it is down to Alonso and how he sees Wharton in his setup. If it is possible to setup a midfield where his weaknesses can be hidden and strengths highlighted, then a move for the Crystal Palace midfielder would be very much worth the risk.