Chelsea and Arsenal are watching the Crystal Palace midfielder.Chelsea and Arsenal are watching the Crystal Palace midfielder.
Chelsea and Arsenal are watching the Crystal Palace midfielder. | Getty Images
Adam Wharton has impressed since making the move from relegation-threatened Championship side Blackburn Rovers to Crystal Palace.
Arsenal and Chelsea are two Premier League sides said to be ‘constantly watching’ the progress of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton ahead of the summer transfer window.
That’s according to TBR Football, with the outlet also naming Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea as potential suitors of the England international. The latest update comes after representatives from the Champions watched Wharton perform in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa at the end of February.
Wharton dazzled in that match as he ran the show from midfield, earning praise from across the press after the final whistle. The midfielder was also thanked by talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored a brace in that match, after the win.
Crystal Palace star being watched by Arsenal and Chelsea
Speaking to cameras before he even left the pitch, Mateta said: “When I play with this player [Wharton], I can score every game.”
Wharton is just one of several Crystal Palace first team stars linked with a transfer to a club fighting for European football. Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi are all the centre of transfer sagas with the Eagles known for the ability to sell on stars at lucrative prices.
Crystal Palace paid £22 million to sign Wharton from Blackburn Rovers in February last year. At the time, the midfielder swapped a Championship relegation battle for the top flight but has made that transition look easy - earning an England call-up shortly after his move to south London.
Blackburn Rovers sat 18th in the second tier at the moment Wharton headed for Crystal Palace, and eventually finished 19th, just three points above the drop zone.
Crystal Palace want £48m profit to sanction sale
Speaking at the time of that transfer, former Millwall and Stoke City boss Gary Rowett told Sky Sports: "He's a very good player. I managed against him a couple of times last season, and he's so comfortable in possession of the ball. There are many different sides to his game.
"He's added goals and an ability to affect games in the final third. He's a player who will take the ball anywhere, is involved in the build-up and has plenty of potential.
"The only thing I'm slightly surprised about is that if you look at most players who leave the Championship for the Premier League, you're talking about a fee of around £10m to £15. So to get £18m-plus is a very good deal for Blackburn as well.
"It's a huge step up so I think it's one for the future and not straight away for Palace. There's a greater intensity, physicality and speed to how you're closed down. Technically, I feel he can handle the step up."
Crystal Palace have certainly proven that £22 million to be a good investment. The Mail has reported that the club now won’t accept anything less than £70 million for their star but hope to keep him at Selhurst Park with TBR Football adding that work on a substantial new contract is already underway.
In other news, Todd Boehly is thought to be determined to beat West Ham and Crystal Palace to a £20 million signing this summer.