Numerous reports are linking Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton with a move away from the club, and after the interest from Chelsea was reported, news from Spain suggests that Real Madrid are keen to make Wharton a Galactico. 

The report, which comes from Fichajes, has posed a transfer battle between both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, with both sides keen on acquiring Wharton’s services. A fight for Wharton’s services could push the fee up, which would benefit the club, and a sale of this significance would relieve Palace’s SCR straints and allow the club to reinvest into the squad. 

Wharton would suit football at the Benabéu to a tee. His elegance, control and technical ability would be perfect for a club like Madrid, and it’s reported that José Mourinho is a huge fan of Wharton’s. 

There were numerous reports that Madrid had been scouting Wharton throughout last Summer, as the Spanish giants look to address their midfield issues and set themselves up to challenge for the Champions League once again. 

The immediate thought of losing one of your best players is that yes, of course it would hinder the side. However, when looking back to previous sales, it's hard to say many of them had an impact even slightly detrimental on the playing squad. 

Michael Olise departed for Bayern Munich and was replaced by Isamaïla Sarr, who matched the output and even bettered it, a feat few thought possible at the time. 

When Marc Guéhi left for Manchester City, Jaydee Canvot stepped in and replaced him adequately, to the extent where Palace’s results would not have been much different had the England international stayed put. 

Eberechi Eze’s sale was a big miss, purely because of the nature of sides Palace were facing, especially in Europe, where a more direct and confident player would have done well against resilient low blocks. 

However, Palace found a way to prevent that sale from being detrimental to the club and the success that was possible this season. 

The issue with a sale for Wharton, is there is not yet a replacement already through the door. Of course, if Cheick Doucouré can return to fitness, he’ll ‘feel like a new signing’, but a replacement for Wharton’s quality and importance would be needed before the window ends, and in fact before a sale is completed. 

Wharton is also a hugely significant part of Palace’s recent success. Ultimately, in a similar sense to Olise, when you’re talking about one of the best young players in the world in his position, it’s going to be a big loss. 

However, if a record sale can be reached, and Palace are able to go back into the market and reinvest, then history would suggest that the impact on the footballing side of things would not be destructive to Palace’s season. 

It does feel as if the opportunity that has arisen with Palace’s qualification to the Europa League is one which the club cannot pass up. Maintaining the strongest possible squad whilst adding quality in depth will give Pierre Sage the best opportunity to succeed, and push Palace even further into European glory. 

Whilst the quality of sides competing in this upcoming Europa League is significantly stronger than it was last season, there is still a real possibility of Palace winning the entire tournament. 

With a new manager, the guarantees are unknown, but what can be said is that with a side and squad who did so excellently to win both the FA Cup and Conference League will be ready and raring to go again and continue to make history for the club.