Manchester City Pursues Adam Wharton but Crystal Palace Holds Firm

Manchester City have tested Crystal Palace’s resolve over Adam Wharton – and been firmly knocked back.

With Rodri gone to Barcelona in a £65m deal and a hole yawning in the heart of their midfield, City sounded out Palace about the England international, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic. The response from Selhurst Park was blunt: Wharton is not available this summer. No price. No negotiation. Not now.

From £18m gamble to Palace centrepiece

When Palace paid an initial £18m to Blackburn Rovers for a 19-year-old Wharton in early 2024, plenty wondered if they had overreached. They have their answer now.

Across the past two and a half years, Wharton has grown into the heartbeat of the side. He is closing in on 100 appearances for the club, has forced his way into the England set-up and played a starring role in Palace’s Europa Conference League and FA Cup triumphs over the last two seasons. That return has turned what looked like a bold punt into one of the sharpest pieces of business in the league.

Unsurprisingly, the list of admirers has swelled. Manchester United have been among the clubs linked. Yet Wharton has consistently cut through the noise.

Last November he shrugged off the speculation with typical clarity.

“There are always rumours floating about on social media. Is it true? Is it not? You tell me,” he said. “My friends, my family, my brothers, everyone will message me and be like, ‘Is it true this club’s interested?’. I’m like, ‘Thanks for telling me because I didn’t know.’

“You must be doing something right for those sorts of clubs to be interested or wanting you, but until there’s something concrete and direct communication, I wouldn’t stress about it.”

A long-term plan, not a quick exit

Those around him are preaching patience too. His agent, James Featherstone, outlined a carefully mapped career path late last year, making clear that Wharton is not agitating for the first big move that comes along.

“We have a plan and it doesn’t have to be achieved yesterday, today, this minute or moment,” Featherstone explained. “So he has his in-game, in-season goals and targets, development and everything else. He’s got to do his bit and the rest will look after itself in a very structured, calm and sensible way.

“We spoke about shooting for the stars. Let’s play for England. How do you get there? Personally I think to play for England you have to play Champions League, and to play Champions League you have to play in one of the top teams in one of the top leagues.”

The ambition is clear. Wharton wants Champions League football. Palace, who will step into the Europa League this season, can offer a European stage but not yet the one at the very top. If that gap remains in the coming years, the pressure around his future will only grow.

For now, though, Palace are holding their line. Strongly.

City’s Rodri problem grows

City’s approach comes at a time of upheaval at the Etihad. Rodri, the metronome of Pep Guardiola’s midfield for seven outstanding years, has left for Barcelona and will cast a long shadow over whatever comes next in that position. Replacing him is one of the most daunting tasks in European recruitment.

Wharton was on City’s list of potential solutions, but their enquiry hit a brick wall. Palace have “no intention” of selling in this window and have made that stance crystal clear. Any hope of a late breakthrough looks remote.

The 22-year-old, who missed out on Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer, will instead lead Palace into their Europa League campaign, the next step in his own development and in the club’s growing ambitions.

City, meanwhile, must look elsewhere. Enzo Maresca’s side are pushing to bring in Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi in the coming weeks as they reshape a squad that has already lost its most reliable midfield anchor.

Rodri’s departure has left a void that cannot be filled easily. Wharton will not be the man to step into it this summer. The question now is whether City can find anyone who truly can.