Crystal Palace co-owner Steve Parish insists Adam Wharton remains fully committed to the club, even though the midfielder has made no secret of his ambition to one day play in the Champions League.
The 21-year-old has become one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young talents after a superb start to life in south London, attracting interest from several European heavyweights including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
Palace are preparing to reward Wharton with an improved contract, potentially including a significant release clause, as they aim to fend off growing transfer speculation.
“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,” Parish told talkSPORT. “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.”
Steve Parish believes Adam Wharton will stay with Crystal Palace
|PA
Parish added: “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.
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“I think he’s very committed to the club. I don’t know where all this stuff comes from. If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, that’s nothing surprising really about that.
"The fact of the matter is he’s got a long contract to run. There’s no pressure on us to do it, and I don’t think there’s any real pressure from the player either.”
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Adam Wharton has attracted a host of teams in recent months
|REUTERS
Wharton joined Palace from Blackburn Rovers for £18million in 2024 — a fee that now looks a bargain given his rapid rise in value. The midfielder is currently estimated to be worth around £75m after adding an FA Cup winners’ medal and European experience in the Europa Conference League to his résumé.
The England international, who made his senior debut last year, was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad but has been assured that he remains firmly in contention for future call-ups.
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His recent performance against Everton on October 5, despite Palace’s 2-1 defeat, further underlined his quality — with Jack Grealish describing him as "the best player on the pitch".
Palace plan to open talks over a new long-term deal at the end of the season. The club have previously included release clauses in contracts — notably for Eberechi Eze — and could follow a similar approach with Wharton.
Matt Hobbs now has the difficult task of keeping Crystal Palace competitive
|PA
Sporting director Matt Hobbs is under pressure to keep the squad competitive and aligned with manager Oliver Glasner’s ambitions.
Palace have also shown interest in AZ Alkmaar teenager Kees Smit, though Wharton remains central to their long-term vision.