Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton on Real Madrid Radar as Midfielder Seeks Move
Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton has reportedly asked to leave the club, with Real Madrid a potential destination. According to reports in Spain, the 22-year-old has informed Crystal Palace of his desire to move to a Champions League club this summer.
Wharton, who has been a standout performer for the Eagles since his arrival from Blackburn Rovers, is understood to be on a shortlist of midfield targets for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have tracked the 22-year-old for over a year, with his profile fitting their long-term recruitment strategy of signing top young talent.
According to Spanish outlet AS, via Diario AS, Wharton has expressed a desire to leave Selhurst Park to join a club competing in the UEFA Champions League. While Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City have all been linked, the report suggests the 22-year-old could be bound for the Santiago Bernabéu.
Crystal Palace are expected to demand a fee in the region of €100 million for their prized asset, a figure that could prove a significant hurdle. However, the player's reported desire to leave could see that valuation drop during the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid's sporting department is said to be high on Wharton, viewing him as a top target to bolster their midfield options. The England international, who has been capped three times for his country, is seen as fitting the profile of a modern, dynamic central midfielder that the Spanish club has targeted in recent years.
It remains to be seen if Real Madrid will formalize their interest with a concrete bid, but the player's apparent desire to leave and the Spanish club's long-term admiration could make a deal a possibility this summer.
