Real Madrid kiinnostunut Crystal Palacen Adam Whartonista uuden keskikentän rakentajaksi
If you thought Real Madrid’s summer was going to be quiet, think again. With Toni Kroos now officially retired and Luka Modric closer to the end than the beginning, the club is reshaping its iconic midfield. And according to Spanish daily AS, a new name has surfaced on their shortlist: Crystal Palace’s young star Adam Wharton.
Not exactly the first club you’d expect Madrid to be scouting, right? But there’s a reason Wharton’s suddenly being mentioned in the same breath as Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Who is Adam Wharton, and why Madrid cares
At just 20 years old, Adam Wharton has quietly become one of the most talked-about young midfielders in England. He only joined Crystal Palace earlier this year from Blackburn Rovers, yet in a matter of months he’s gone from prospect to linchpin in the team.
What makes him stand out?
- He’s a natural distributor, capable of launching attacks with pinpoint passes.
- His reading of the game is mature far beyond his age.
- And versatility-wise, he’s the kind of midfielder who can sit deep or push box-to-box.
It’s no surprise, then, that Xabi Alonso—himself a former midfield maestro—sees shades of a young Kroos in Wharton’s style: composed, inventive, and in control of the tempo.
Price tag: sky-high and rising
Of course, talent like this doesn’t come cheap. Palace reportedly want at least €80 million to even consider letting him go. And here’s the issue: the London club is already braced for the likely departure of Eberechi Eze, who’s heavily linked to Arsenal. Losing Eze and Wharton in the same summer? That would be a thunderbolt Palace may not recover from easily.
On Madrid’s side, the math only makes sense if they sell one of their own star attackers—most likely Rodrygo. He’s been given an €80–90 million valuation, and his potential exit would free both the budget and the squad space to move for Wharton.
Crystal Palace holds the cards
Here’s the thing: Palace isn’t under pressure. Wharton only signed on in January, and his deal runs until 2029. That means the club is in the driver’s seat. They don’t have to sell him, and fans would likely revolt if two of their brightest stars were shipped out in one window.
Sure, Palace have been known to sell big before—Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise—but Wharton feels different. He’s young, fresh, and quickly becoming the heartbeat of the team’s future. Unless Madrid drop a dizzying sum, don’t expect the South London side to roll over easily.
Madrid’s chess move: searching for balance
For Real Madrid, this is about building the next great midfield era. Bellingham, Tchouaméni, and Camavinga are already in place, but Alonso wants something slightly different in the mix: a controller who can stitch everything together, steady the tempo, and bring a bit of grit to the glamour. Wharton’s balance of composure and British steel could be exactly that final piece.
Other names—like Joshua Kimmich—have floated around too, but Wharton represents youth and long-term planning, not a short-term fix.
So, is it realistic?
Plenty of dominoes have to fall:
- Rodrygo would almost certainly need to be sold first.
- Palace would need to accept a monster offer.
- Real would need to decide if they’re ready to bet on raw talent over proven experience.
But make no mistake: Madrid’s interest is real. They’ve identified Wharton as a player who could grow into the Kroos role for the next decade. The question is whether they’ll take the plunge now—or wait another season when the price might climb even higher.
Potential headlines
- “From Selhurst Park to the Bernabéu? Madrid chase Palace’s Adam Wharton”
- “The €80m Gamble: Could Madrid’s future midfield run through South London?”
- “Rodrygo out, Wharton in? The bold Real Madrid plan taking shape”
Final word
What’s clear is that Adam Wharton is no longer just one for the future—he’s already here, and Europe’s elite are taking notice. For Crystal Palace, the fight is about holding onto their jewel. For Madrid, it’s about shaping what comes next after a golden era.
👉 So, what do you think? Should Madrid go all-in on Wharton now, or play it safe and wait for a more experienced option?
