Exclusive: Adam Wharton makes decision on January exit with Man City huge fans of Crystal Palace ace
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Adam Wharton has no plans to leave Crystal Palace in the January transfer window despite growing interest from Premier League giants Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
While Adam Wharton is yet to rediscover the fabulous form he displayed from January to June – the £20 million signing from Blackburn Rovers a revelation at Selhurst Park following his mid-season arrival – interest in him remains high.
TBR can confirm that stuttering Premier League champions Manchester City are looking at midfield options heading into the New Year.
Wharton is one player City hugely admire, with Mateo Kovacic recently joining Rodri on the treatment table.
Arsenal and Liverpool are also big fans of the Blackburn-born 20-year-old, Wharton labelled an ‘outstanding’ talent by Frank Lampard recently.
But, in what will be a massive boost to Oliver Glasner’s hopes of avoiding relegation, TBR understands that Wharton is in no rush to leave Crystal Palace having only swapped Lancashire for South London 11 months ago.
Adam Wharton ready to stay at Crystal Palace despite Manchester City interest
Crystal Palace recently talked to Wharton’s camp in order to get a better idea of his plans for the mid-season window. The Eagles will have been delighted to learn that Wharton, capped by England for the first time back in May, currently has no plans for another change of scenary.
And while Crystal Palace accept that Wharton has no shortage of admirers higher up the food chain, it seems that any negotiations over a departure can be pushed back until the summer at the earliest.
Wharton’s composure and decision making for one so young is perhaps the attribute that most appeals to the likes of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot.
His average of 2.3 tackles per game, meanwhile, shows that Wharton has a destructive streak in his game too.
“What a performance,” Gary Lineker said on his Rest is Football podcast after watching Wharton run the show in Crystal Palace’s shock 1-0 win at Liverpool in the spring, a game in which Glasner’s trusty number 20 completed 88 per cent of his passes.
“He’s so calm on the ball. He doesn’t give it away. He never gets flustered. He tracks back, gets forward and he has a really good all-round game.
“He looks like a possible star for the future.”
Oliver Glasner hopes to see Wharton back for Brighton derby
Like Ebere Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marc Guehi and co, Wharton’s form has taken a dip in recent months. Hit hard by the departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace have won only two out of 14 Premier League games this season.
Wharton has also struggled with a groin issue. One that has kept him out of Palace’s last five top-flight matches.
Glasner has identified Palace’s trip to rivals Brighton and Hove Albion on December 15th, meanwhile, as a potential target for Wharton’s return.
"If everything goes as we planned, he will have his first training session with us after the Ipswich game [which Crystal Palace won 1-0 on Tuesday night],” Glasner said.
“Maybe then Brighton is possible for him.”
