According to Crystal Palace boss Steve Parish, Adam Wharton will want to play in the Champions League in the near future.
Wharton was a superstar in the Palace team that enjoyed an incredible 2025.
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He joined the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 for £22m and has proven to be a bargain.
The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders and a future star for England.
He also helped Palace win the FA Cup last year and the Community Shield earlier this season.
According to multiple reports, Manchester United are planning a £60m bid next summer.
This could be a replacement for Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro, both of whom could leave Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Parish, co-owner of the Palace, sat down with Henry Winter and Sean Custis on Sunday’s edition and discussed Wharton’s future.
He told The Pitch Prospect: “I think at some point Adam will either want to play with us in the Champions League if we manage to do that or probably with another club.”
“He’s an exceptional talent. I think I can’t speak for Adam at the moment but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace.
“He had a broken season last season with the groin problems that a lot of young players have.
“I think this season he’s completely focused on playing the games, getting into the England squad, being a regular for us and making sure he can show that Saturday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It’s a difficult program for us at the moment.”
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“I think he feels very committed to the club. I don’t know where it all comes from.”
Asked directly about the £60m Man United links, Parish added: “If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, it’s not really anything surprising.
“The fact is that he has a long contract. There is no pressure on us to do this and I don’t think there is any real pressure on the player either.”
Wharton’s contract runs for two years at the end of the season.
Wharton at Man United?
United could turn to Wharton after a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was ruled out.
The Seagulls wanted £115 million for the midfielder, after which they abandoned their interest.
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The 21-year-old already has the stamp of approval of United legend Rio Ferdinand, who compared him to Michael Carrick.
He said on his YouTube channel: “We talked about Baleba, he was the hot topic for the last month or so but before that Adam Wharton was one of the guys I said.
“He is the closest thing to a Michael Carrick type who is a controller, who can play and who sometimes plays forward from a deeper position.”
“He can be an eight when you need him and can sometimes move on when needed, but he is more of a conductor and can control things.”
“I saw him in a few games against big teams like Man City and Liverpool last season and he seemed unfazed.”
“He seems ready for a big occasion.
“He enjoys pressure, can play under pressure and the game slows down when the ball is around him.”
“I love him. I think he’s a fantastic footballer.”
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Adam Wharton and England
Wharton was a surprising absence from Thomas Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad despite his form for Palace.
Regarding his exclusion, the Eagles star said:
“He just told me that I was playing well, I was close and I deserved to be there, but he was going to stay with the same team.”
“It’s football, so I’m not too worried about it.”
“I can take some time off, visit my grandparents, and it’s not the end of the world because there’s another camp next month.”
“My focus is on Palace and if that goes well, England is just a bonus.”
“Nothing is expected. England have some top players and he has plenty of players to choose from.”
“No matter who he picks, someone isn’t going to get in and there’s going to be a big fuss about it.”
“I can’t sit here and cry about it, this is football and I’m happy to play for Palace and get minutes.”
“I’m going to keep knocking on the door and if I’m in, I’m in and if I’m not, I’ll move on.”