Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton 'expects' to leave Crystal Palace this summer, according to The Sun's Samuel Luckhurst. Wharton joined from Blackburn in January 2024 for a fee around £18 million and should he depart will likely demand a fee much closer to that of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
Adam Wharton plans to leave Crystal Palace this summer as he believes he is “ready to make the next step”, according to The Sun.
Wharton joined The Eagles from Championship side Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 and immediately made an impression on Palace and the Premier League, making Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.
Since then, he has gone on to make waves at Palace, winning both the FA Cup and the Community Shield as well as battling in the Conference League this season.
Wharton looks destined to make the plane for the 2026 World Cup, though his battle with Elliot Anderson to start alongside Declan Rice is one that will go down to the wire.
Having sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in consecutive summer windows for fees north of £60 million, as well as Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January for £20 million, Wharton could be the next to leave Palace for a significant fee.
The Sun’s Manchester United correspondent, Samuel Luckhurst reported that Wharton expects to be on the move this summer.
He said: “Adam Wharton expects to leave Crystal Palace this summer.
“Manchester United target Wharton believes he is ready to make the next step and wants to join a Champions League club.
“Wharton, who is under contract until 2029, would likely command a similar fee [to that of Olise and Eze] with Premier League-proven midfielders in demand.”
It looks as though it will be a summer of major upheaval once again for Palace, with Oliver Glasner leaving and Jean-Phillipe Mateta surely likely to head out the door too.
Wharton's departure would add another problem for Steve Parish to fix but at least he would command a significant fee that could help address the balance of the squad for whoever the new manager is.
It was reported in the Telegraph this week that Andoni Iraola is a leading candidate, which would be a major coup for Palace with the work the Spaniard has done under similar circumstances at Bournemouth.
Wharton, who arrived for a fee of around £18 million has made 84 appearances for Palace in his two and a half seasons at Selhurst Park.
In that time, he has won the FA Cup, Community Shield and made his England debut.
Parish and Palace may not want to be considered a selling club, but buying players from the Championship and selling them to Europe’s elite for three times what you bought them for has served Palace well in the past, and it could again this summer.