Adam Wharton, the pure midfielder admired by Manchester City | OneFootball

Adam Wharton’s line-breaking, left-footed passing has made him Crystal Palace’s purest playmaker. His profile divides opinion, but his vision rarely does.

NY Times reports Manchester City saw an initial enquiry rejected and Palace maintain he is not for sale this summer. How far City choose to push that stance before the window closes remains to be seen.

A Premier League clip captured him warming up at Everton, head up, constantly scanning. After the game, Jack Grealish said: “That should have gone to Adam Wharton. He was the best player on the pitch.”

Days later, Palace highlighted a slick move against Chelsea, a turn in space, a one-two with Ismaila Sarr and a crisp pass into Jean-Philippe Mateta. Four hours after that post, as England faced Wales at Wembley, Wharton was absent.

Critics question whether he is athletic enough for the modern midfield, admirers relish his urge to play forward and break lines. He was also omitted from England’s World Cup squad in May.

Wharton prefers risk and reward to safe recycling, often releasing passes quickly that change the rhythm of attacks and unsettle a press. For now, the intrigue lies in whether City return and whether England’s door reopens.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”