Manchester City are interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, according to the Evening Standard.
The Premier League champions are not expected to make a move for the 20-year-old during the current transfer window but they are keeping close tabs on the player’s development.
Wharton only secured a £22.5m move to Selhurst Park in January (with Palace beating the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle, Brighton and Everton to his signature), but he has gained plenty of admirers since making his top-flight debut.
Despite only getting his first international cap against Bosnia earlier this month, England boss Gareth Southgate saw enough to include him in his final 26-man squad for the European Championships.
It is a huge vote of confidence in Wharton, whose star is rising very first, and City seem to have been similarly impressed with his performances, based on their reported interest.
Declan Rice is a massive fan of the midfielder
One of Wharton’s England teammates, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, has been praising the player following his England selection:
“He’s been outstanding. In training, he impressed a lot of the players. He’s so composed and calm on the ball. He played his first half of the season in the Championship, he’s [come into the England team] from Crystal Palace now.”
“He’s got a beautiful left foot, really crisp passing. And all round, just a really down-to-earth boy who wants to learn.”
City will look to make a signing this summer
While Wharton may not be arriving at the Etihad anytime soon, the Cityzens are likely to recruit another midfielder over the coming weeks and months.
Kevin De Bruyne’s comments about Saudi Arabia, combined with the news that the club are open to offers for both Matheus Nunes and Kalvin Phillips, suggest that it is an area of the pitch they are keen to strengthen. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Benfica’s Joao Neves are among the targets being considered.
