There is a degree of resignation with Crystal Palace when it comes to Adam Wharton. They are enjoying him while they can.
The presence of Real Madrid representatives at their games in recent weeks has come as little surprise to those at Selhurst Park.
Palace have been bracing themselves for Wharton’s departure ever since his arrival from Blackburn a little over 12 months ago.
The south London club have a knack of identifying unearthed gems: Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze all plucked from obscurity.
There is a feeling at Palace that Wharton may become the best of the lot, though Olise’s performances at Bayern Munich the season has seen the winger take to another level.
But all in good time for Wharton, who is unquestionably destined for the top.
Not that you’d necessarily believe such bold predications just by looking at him. His slightness in frame makes you doubt whether he can withstand the brutality of battle in the Premier League.
Indeed, there is a theory that Wharton requires protection next to him in order to play his natural game.
Those at Palace reject those claims, insisting Wharton’s quickness of mind allows him to navigate the hustle and bustle to provide his technical qualities with room to breathe.
His constant scanning over both shoulders and the landscape ahead before receiving a pass allows Wharton to paint pictures in his mind. He knows what he wants to do before the ball is at his feet.
His intelligence in finding space off-the-ball with a view to positioning himself into areas where he can execute forward passes also a clear trait to his game.
Being adept with either foot means he can find a pass without his midfield rivals getting near him. Then there’s the weight of pass… wow.
His selection for last summer’s Euro 2024 squad, in what was Gareth Southgate’s final games in charge of England, came as a shock despite his excellent displays under Oliver Glasner towards the end of last season.
Wharton didn’t play a single minute in Germany. Yet, he left with his reputation enhanced – certainly with his England teammates who saw Wharton’s excellence in possession on a daily basis.
His stint in Germany arrived at a cost, however. He’d suffered from groin issues during the tournament that he carried into the new season – his first full Premier League campaign with Palace.
There was hope Wharton could manage his way through, but a decision was taken in early November to operate after he came off after just 27 minutes of an EFL Cup win over Aston Villa.
The procedure was due to keep him out for four weeks, but due to complications Wharton spent 12 weeks in rehabilitation.
Not that you would know it by the way he has rediscovered his rhythm and flow after finally returning last month.
Glasner, whose team are hitting form after a slow start to the season, will reap the benefits of his forward-thinking midfielder return to fitness.
How much longer he will be able to do so remains to be seen.
Everton, Brighton, West Ham and Tottenham all showed varying degrees of interest in the 18 months leading up to Palace’s £22m swoop – former Hammers consultant Alan Irvine taking a particular shining to Wharton.
With all due respect to the aforementioned quartet of clubs, Wharton’s next move should see the midfielder head to the very top.
Bayern Munich retain a long standing interest in the midfielder. But it is the prospect of a Real Madrid midfield of Wharton and Jude Bellingham that would really whet the appetite.
Playing in Spain’s capital would top some journey from the Blackburn reserve game against Tottenham in September 2022 that first alerted Palace to Wharton’s qualities, though it was his performance in a Carabao Cup tie versus Chelsea last season that eventually saw them solidify their interest.
Manchester City are known to have a keen interest in Wharton, but having signed Nico Gonzales from Porto in January it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola goes for another central midfielder at the end of the season.
Arsenal will also be in the market for at least one central midfielder in the summer with Thomas Partey and Jorginho set to leave.
One of those slots is expected to be filled by Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, with Arsenal to activate his £51million release clause at the end of the season.
Whether Arsenal would be willing to spend the sort of money, a minimum £70million, on another midfielder when they are under huge pressure to sign a centre forward appears doubtful. Liverpool, too, may move for a central midfielder.
With the futures of Palace captain Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze uncertain, the prospect of Palace losing all three ahead of next season seems unfathomable for Glasner.
The south London club will hope to avoid the inevitable for as long as possible. Indeed there is a strong argument for Wharton to stay at Palace next season after this season’s injury issues.
Having joined midway through the previous campaign, he is yet to complete a full Premier League season.
If he stays and avoids injury for the entirety of next season, then Palace will be hard pushed to keep him.
Sooner or later, though, Wharton will receive an offer too good for him and Palace to refuse.
Insight by Danny Murphy
Adam Wharton makes the game look effortless. He is comfortable in possession, progressive with his passing and loves to break the lines and open up defences. That’s everything Spanish teams want from ball-playing midfielders.
He trusts his creativity and technical ability, but without shirking the defensive side.
At 21, Wharton is a calm, gifted midfielder who finds football easy. All he needs now, after returning from a groin injury, is a run of games to get around the pitch, as he did last season.
It is remarkable Crystal Palace were able to buy him for only £22million a year ago — you would have expected rival bidders to drive the price up.
It is probably because so much emphasis is put on the physical side of the game in the Premier League. Too many scouts judge that first, when it should be secondary to ability. Wharton is not lacking in the physical side, by the way, it’s just not his main asset. But it doesn’t surprise me he is being looked at by Real Madrid.
I thought the big boys might have called earlier. Possibly the delay is because he has been injured.
He was a standout right away, going from the Championship at Blackburn into the Premier League with Palace. The fact he didn’t need time to adjust tells you a lot about his self-belief and the mentality that he belongs at the top. That is rare in young players.
You saw it with Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, who came through the academy system and burst on to the scene.
The way Wharton has done it is very unusual. It underlines his ability to cope with pressure.
I was surprised he wasn’t used more by England at the Euros, when we were struggling to dominate lesser teams, because that is his strength — receiving the ball in tight areas and playing progressive football.
It’s great to see him back and any scout watching him against Aston Villa last Tuesday would have seen him hit a pass not many could — and it was with his weaker right foot. He is a super talent set for big things. He has handled every step up and I don’t see it stopping now.