Crystal Palace
Mick Brown
Wed 21 May 2025 20:00, UK
Real Madrid and Barcelona have joined the likes of Liverpool in their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton this summer.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 21-year-old would thrive in the Spanish game.
However, Palace are not willing to see the midfielder leave this summer and will reject any advances for his services when the window opens.
Brown told Football Insider last month that Wharton ticks plenty of boxes for Liverpool and is a player Arne Slot would like to add to his squad.
Despite that, some concerns have lingered about his athleticism when compared to Premier League rivals, the likes of Rodri and Declan Rice.
As a result, there is a feeling that a move to either of the Spanish giants would be the ideal next step in the FA Cup winner’s career, with both keeping tabs on his situation.
Crystal Palace Man City
Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has been linked with a move away. (Credit: Imago)
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Crystal Palace make Adam Wharton demand amid growing interest
Brown told Football Insider on 8 May that Man City are the favourites to sign Wharton as things stand, with Palace set to demand upwards of £80million for him.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, explained that Wharton’s skill-set would be better suited to the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“*Adam Wharton’s quality is unquestionable, there are no concerns there,*” he told Football Insider.
“On the other side of things is his ability to cover the ground, and he seems to me to be a yard short in terms of covering the ground.
“In the Premier League, that’s very, very important.
“It’s something Declan Rice does incredibly well, for example, and the likes of Rodri can do it too.
“So that’s going to be a concern for the likes of Liverpool or Man City – albeit not a major one.
“From what I hear, both Barcelona and Real Madrid have been having a look at him.
“In Spain, both of those clubs are going to dominate the majority of games, and his ability to cover the ground is not such an important part of the game.
“The focus there is about whether you can play ,and manipulate the ball and that’s where Wharton thrives.
“I have that little question mark about him, but that’s not to take away from what I know his assets are, and those assets would be a good fit for the likes of Barcelona and Madrid.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Arne Slot is among Adam Wharton’s admirers. (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Marc Guehi update emerges after FA Cup win
Wharton is not the only Crystal Palace star attracting attention from the likes of Liverpool this summer, as Marc Guehi’s future remains up in the air.
Football Insider revealed on 20 May that Palace’s FA Cup win won’t alter Guehi’s situation and is unlikely to have any major impact on his future.
The centre-back will have just one year remaining on his deal at Selhurst Park next month, and the Eagles will find it tough to hold on to their captain.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider in March that Liverpool want to sign Guehi and are prepared to spend big money on a new centre-back.
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