Manchester United and Liverpool have reportedly opened talks to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, according to Spanish newspaper Transfers.
Since moving to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers a few years ago, the 22-year-old has established himself as an undisputed starter in Oliver Glasner’s starting line-up.
The youngster helped the Eagles win the FA Cup and Community Shield last year and has secured his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England national team.
Now, Transfers claim that Liverpool and Man Utd have been impressed by Wharton’s recent standout performances and have already held initial talks to sign him.
The Red Devils plan to replace Casemiro, who will leave as a free agent next summer, and want Wharton for his excellent distribution skills.
On the other hand, Arne Slot is not satisfied with the performances of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch so far this season. Liverpool are therefore looking to revamp their midfield department and have identified Wharton as an ideal option.
With the player’s existing deal running until 2029, Crystal Palace are in a strong position to demand a big fee if they have to cash in on him in the summer, having put a price tag on his head of a whopping £83 million.
Conflict
The south London club’s price tag won’t be the only obstacle for United or Liverpool in completing the operation, as Real Madrid are also keen to buy him.
Wharton is a deep-lying playmaker and has shown glimpses of his great potential in recent years. So he would be a smart signing for Man Utd or Liverpool if either club were to buy him.
United currently have Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo as midfielders. However, Ugarte is struggling to find his feet in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Liverpool currently have Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch as options to deploy in the engine room. However, Endo found it difficult to find regular playing time under Slot, while Jones struggled with fitness issues.
It will be interesting to see whether the Old Trafford club or the Anfield club will ultimately make a concrete approach to securing his services in the coming summer window.
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