Crystal Palace issue firm message on potential Adam Wharton sale
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Adam Wharton’s Man of the Match performance in Crystal Palace’s Conference League triumph will only add to the speculation. Image Credits: Imago ImagesCrystal Palace have made their stance on selling Adam Wharton this summer clear.The 22-year-old midfielder ran the show in the UEFA Conference League final, dictating the tempo in and out of possession as Oliver Glasner’s side edged past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to lift the club’s first-ever European trophy.It was no surprise to see him walk away with the official Player of the Match award, capping a continental campaign in which he has been one of the standout young midfielders anywhere in Europe.DaveOCKOP.com exclusively revealed at the start of the year that Wharton was a top target for Liverpool, with the club holding fresh talks with the midfielder in January.Palace’s stance, however, is equally clear – at least publicly.
The south London club tied Wharton down to a long‑term contract through to 2029 and, fresh from European glory, feel under no pressure to cash in on their prize assetSky Sports’ Lyall Thomas has reported that Crystal Palace will try their hardest to keep Adam Wharton at the club this summer:“Crystal Palace want to try and convince Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada to stay with the club following their Conference League triumph.”“Wharton is their star midfielder and on the target lists of most big clubs in the Premier League – and he still has a contract until 2029.”“He is expected to attract significant interest this summer but Palace hope he will stay at least one more season and compete with them in the Europa League next term.”For Liverpool, that message does not necessarily close the door, but it does confirm what many around the club already suspected: if the Reds decide to move, they will be negotiating from a position of weakness against a club holding all the cards.After a night when Wharton showed he can boss a European final, the only certainty is that the noise around his future – and Liverpool’s name being attached to it – is only just getting started.