Crystal Palace counter Manchester City interest in midfielder as club’s stance on summer transfer revealed | OneFootball

Officials at Crystal Palace are said to be under no pressure to sell Manchester City target Adam Wharton in the summer, according to new reports.

The breakthrough English talent has been linked with a summer switch to the Etihad Stadium, with the 21-year-old envisaged as an ideal candidate to partner Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in midfield.

Manchester City need new blood in their ageing midfield roster that requires surgery and Wharton – alongside Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz – is reportedly on Pep Guardiola’s wish-list to begin a new era at the Etihad Stadium.

The four-in-a-row Premier League champions are fighting for UEFA Champions League qualification as they currently sit in fifth position in the present league standings with just 10 games to go in the campaign.

From those currently within Pep Guardiola’s squad, llkay Gundogan is expected to stay on into the new season when he triggers an extension clause entered into his contract following a dramatic, last-minute arrival from Barcelona last summer.

Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva could leave in the summer while the futures of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are also up in the air after what has been a below-par campaign for Manchester City, leaving the FA Cup as the club’s sole shot at silverware this term.

Manchester City were linked with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton in a major transfer last summer and the England international has enjoyed another stellar season under Oliver Glasner.

According to a new report by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Crystal Palace have now caught wind of the widespread interest in one of their most talented players but are said to be under no pressure to sell Wharton.

The Blackburn-born midfielder – who can operate both as a deep-lying or advanced player in a midfield unit – has over four years left on his current Crystal Palace deal at Selhurst Park, further holding a top-level valuation in the market.

City alleviated their lack of legs in midfield by signing Nico Gonzalez in January and with Rodri stepping up recovery from an ACL injury sustained in September, City could look to strengthen other areas of midfield when Hugo Viana assumes his role as director of football.