Manchester City are reportedly keeping a close watch on a Premier League standout as they plan for the upcoming summer transfer window.
City’s inconsistent form continued over the weekend as they suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with Callum Hudson-Odoi netting the decisive goal in the 87th minute. The defeat left Pep Guardiola’s side sitting fourth in the table, a significant 23 points behind leaders Liverpool.
According to TBR Football, City are showing strong interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. The report claims that Guardiola and his team are big admirers of the 21-year-old and had scouts present at Selhurst Park to watch him in action during Palace’s 1-0 win over Ipswich Town.
Despite City’s interest, Crystal Palace are reportedly keen to hold onto Wharton and are ready to offer him a lucrative new contract to ward off potential suitors. Still, City are said to be weighing a summer bid to challenge Palace’s determination to keep the young talent.
Wharton has also caught the attention of other top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.
Speaking about Wharton last month, Premier League legend Alan Shearer described him as “really exciting.” Shearer praised Wharton’s vision and ability, saying:
“Adam Wharton… he was that player who snuck into Gareth Southgate’s squad. He didn’t feature in the Euros, but you can clearly see his talent. He’s very good in that role — aggressive, keeps possession well, but also looks to pass forward.
From a forward’s perspective, that’s a huge asset — having a midfielder whose first instinct is to play the ball forward. It sounds simple, but it’s rare, and he’s a very gifted player. Hopefully, he stays fit because he’s really exciting.”
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