Real Madrid eye move for Crystal Palace wonderkid Adam Wharton | OneFootball

Crystal Palace will face an uphill battle to keep Adam Wharton at Selhurst Park in the summer as Real Madrid eye move for the talented midfielder, Mail Online reports.

Madrid’s chief scout, Juni Calafat, is a keen admirer of Wharton, and the Spanish giants have been keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old since his return from hernia surgery.

Wharton’s swift adaptation to Premier League football since his move from Blackburn Rovers has been nothing short of remarkable.

The Eagles paid an initial £18 million to snap him up, but add-ons could take the total package to around £22m.

Wharton has since established himself as one of the finest holding midfielders in the league and is reportedly valued at around £70m.

His composure, vision, and defensive intelligence have drawn inevitable comparisons to the very best in his position.

Oliver Glasner handed Wharton his first start since the hernia surgery, and he repaid the manager’s faith with a man-of-the-match performance in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Madrid have now taken note of the talented English star and will continue to monitor his progress as they consider their options ahead of the summer transfer window.

Manchester City were interested in Wharton in January, but his injury issues derailed their interest, leading them to sign Nico Gonzalez from Porto instead.

Manchester United and Liverpool are also known admirers but have other transfer priorities for the summer, paving the way for Madrid to swoop in, and they’re already laying the groundwork for a potential bid.

The fact that Los Blancos have taken such a keen interest in Wharton should set alarm bells ringing at Selhurst Park.

When Madrid come calling, it’s usually hard for a player to turn them down.

Even if Palace demand a premium fee, Madrid have shown time and again they are willing to invest in the best young talent available.