Palace have been on fire recently. (REUTERS/David Klein)
Crystal Palace have been the toast of English football this past year.
The 2024/25 season saw them rack up their best-ever Premier League points total while lifting the FA Cup for the very first time in club history. They’ve carried that momentum straight into the 2025/26 campaign, claiming a shock win over reigning champions Liverpool in the Community Shield—a first for the Eagles and a statement of intent.
Given their performances, it’s little wonder Palace’s top stars are now on the radar of Europe’s elite.
Eberechi Eze has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Tottenham, Jean-Philippe Mateta is being tracked by Newcastle, and Marc Guehi seems destined for Liverpool.
And now, another key talent has reportedly caught the eye of perhaps the biggest club in the world: Real Madrid.
Real Madrid Monitoring Adam Wharton
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on 21-year-old midfielder Adam Wharton.
With Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić recently retired, Los Blancos are hunting for a midfielder capable of orchestrating the engine room of their team—and Wharton fits the bill.
The England international has been a revelation since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024. Described as “outstanding” by fellow England star Declan Rice, Wharton has made 44 appearances and played a key role in Palace’s historic FA Cup and Community Shield wins.
Los Blancos still have just over two weeks to make a move for Wharton, whose contract with Crystal Palace expires in June 2029, before the summer transfer window closes. The Eagles, however, will be desperate to hold onto their emerging star, especially if Marc Guéhi completes his reported move to Liverpool.
If Wharton does depart, though, don’t be all that surprised if Oliver Glasner moves quickly to unearth another underrated talent, continuing his knack for finding hidden gems capable of stepping into the spotlight.
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