The future of Crystal Palace’s rising star midfielder, Adam Wharton, has taken a significant new turn with a European giant entering the race for his signature. According to a new report from Mail Sport, Real Madrid are now closely tracking the England international.
Madrid’s interest in the 21-year-old is reported to be serious and extensive. The La Liga club has reportedly sent scouts to watch the midfielder in person on multiple occasions to assess his rapid development over the past year. As a result of these positive reports, his name is now firmly on their list of future transfer targets.
This development is a potentially huge blow to the long-term plans of Liverpool. The reigning Premier League champions were previously considered the firm “favourites” to sign Wharton. Their reported plan was to wait until the summer of 2026 to make their move, respecting the player’s own wish to spend one more season at Selhurst Park to continue his development.
However, the entry of a club of Real Madrid’s stature and pulling power completely changes the dynamic of this transfer saga. Liverpool will now face immense and formidable competition for his signature, a factor that will almost certainly drive up the player’s future price tag and could accelerate the timeline for a potential move.
Real Madrid’s interest aligns perfectly with their known strategy of targeting the world’s best young talents to refresh their midfield. While it was reported they were not pursuing a midfielder this summer, their close tracking of Wharton suggests he is a key part of their plans for the future, likely for the summer of 2026.
The race for Adam Wharton has a new, heavyweight contender. While he is set to remain at Crystal Palace for the upcoming season, a huge transfer battle between Liverpool and Real Madrid is now firmly on the cards for next summer.