Liverpool and Chelsea are both showing concrete interest in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most impressive young midfielders in England since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers a couple of years ago.
Wharton has enjoyed considerable success at Selhurst Park, winning a Conference League, an FA Cup, and a Community Shield during his time at the club.
In 51 appearances across all competitions last campaign, the Englishman scored a solitary goal and registered seven assists, drawing attention from the top end of the Premier League.
Liverpool are reportedly viewing Wharton as a potential replacement for Curtis Jones, who has departed the club to join Inter Milan this summer.
Currently, Liverpool have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Dominik Szoboszlai as deeper midfield options, with Trey Nyoni also able to provide cover in that position.
However, Endo has struggled to find regular game time in recent years, which may be driving Liverpool’s push to bring in fresh competition and quality in central midfield.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have identified Wharton as a serious option to replace Enzo Fernández, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City this transfer window.
Should Fernández depart Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would have Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and Jordan Henderson available as deeper midfield options.
Manchester City have also registered interest in Wharton and have enquired about the details of signing him this summer, adding further competition for his signature.
With three top clubs now circling, Crystal Palace face a significant challenge in holding onto one of their most prized assets heading into the latter stages of the window.
Wharton is a Premier League-proven player who has not yet reached his prime, making him an appealing long-term option for any club willing to meet Palace’s reported valuation.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool or Chelsea will be the first to make a firm, concrete approach to secure the midfielder’s services before the transfer window closes.