Adam Wharton is attracting interest from Manchester United but the Crystal Palace sensation has underlined his desire to play in the Champions League - if and when he does move on
Adam Wharton will want to play Champions League football in the near future as he continues to excel for Crystal Palace - as their chairman Steve Parish sounds a warning to interested parties.
Wharton has enjoyed a meteoric rise since he joined the Eagles for £22m in January 2024 from Blackburn Rovers. The 21-year-old has proved himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and is now tipped as an England regular for the next decade.
He already boasts an FA Cup and the Community Shield on his CV with Palace enjoying one of the most successful periods in their history - which has seen reports claim Manchester United are considering making a £60million bid next summer for Wharton.
Those at Old Trafford were looking to add a midfielder in the summer, leading to their interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba, but failed to get a player through the door. They're now linked with Wharton as they look to revive their fortunes.
But Parish has laid down the law to anyone who wants Wharton, insisting he wants to play at the top table of European football, something the Eagles may struggle to provide, but United are equally miles off being able to offer that.
He told talkSPORT: “I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club. He's an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can't speak for Adam, but I think he's focused on his time at Crystal Palace.
“He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had that a lot of young players get. I think this season he's completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It's a difficult programme for us right now. I think he's very committed to the club. I don't know where all this stuff comes from."
Palace have had to deal with the loss of a key player in each of the last two summers. Michael Olise left for Bayern Munich in 2024 and Eberechi Eze joined Arsenal in the summer. There is now talk of Marc Guehi leaving once his contract expires next summer.
Parish though is confident that Wharton, who has more than two years left on his deal, has no desire to leave with the club in a strong position. He said: "There's no pressure on us to do it, and I don't think there's any real pressure from the player either.”