Adam Wharton

[KentExile]

https://as.com/futbol/internacional/wharton-minimo-70m-y-sueldo-galactico-f202601-n/

Translated via google from Spanish

 

It wouldn't be surprising if, during more than one Christmas lunch in England, the question arose of why Adam Wharton isn't yet a regular starter for Thomas Tuchel in the England national team, while the fever for the Premier League's hottest midfielder is already spreading beyond its borders . Crystal Palace is watching with anticipation the upcoming bidding war for a player for whom any club that signs him will surely have to surpass the €65 million they received for Eberichi Eze and offer him a galactic salary commensurate with the potential and interest generated by one of the best prospects in modern midfield .

He is not only considered a potential signing for the Premier League's 'Big Four' —Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea (excluding Arsenal, who recently signed Martín Zubimendi, and Tottenham, due to Crystal Palace's excellent form)—but also for Real Madrid , a club that rarely ventures into the British market and is in need of a player with his characteristics, either as an alternative to Tchouameni or as a complement, allowing, for example, Güler to move out of his central midfield role and play further up the pitch to link up with Bellingham and Mbappé. The Englishman has been offered to Real Madrid, who are not currently considering the move.

 

He's not a pure playmaker like Vitinha or Pedri, but rather a midfielder who is both a playmaker and, increasingly, a creative force. A pragmatic hybrid, tactically impeccable, with a significant impact on the game thanks to his intelligence and discipline—although as a midfielder he's not yet fully mature—more mature than his 21 years suggest . This is evidenced by his meteoric rise over the last year and a half. As the infographic below shows, he has nothing to envy in the top five players who occupy his same position in the Premier League, including Zubimendi, Moisés Caicedo, Rodrigo, and Casemiro.

Wharton's 90-minute metrics compared to the top five players in the same position in the Premier League. BeSoccer

He's the best in defensive duels, committing half the fouls needed to do so, and he's also excellent at making progressive passes. In short, he has an innate ability to steal the ball and break lines with his left foot. And he does it vertically, without any frills, as he himself describes it. Frank Lampard has already requested that he take the reins for the Three Lions, and his teammate Declan Rice was impressed in training: "He's top , fantastic."

A magnet for praise

The same left foot that someone who knows that position like Pep Guardiola so well praised: “He’s an excellent midfielder; his impact is incredible .” Rio Ferdinand compared him to Michael Carrick and the BBC , while The Athletic likened him to Sergio Busquets for his low heart rate in critical situations. Glasner, his manager and for whom he is vital (88% of the starting eleven), highlights his “pre-planning ability.” He has a mental scanner. He knows what needs to be done before winning the ball back. What better endorsement for someone who, in just six months, went from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship (the English second division) to being called up by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024 after a €21 million transfer to Crystal Palace? “Surreal,” is how Wharton himself described it.

Moreover, he possesses a commanding presence , as he demonstrated in a recent interview with the club's media after winning their first-ever title, the FA Cup: “If I can speed up the game and create an advantage, I see no reason not to. I'm convinced that, whoever I play against and wherever I play, I can influence the match.” “He'll constantly look for you, even if it's a difficult pass. He looks forward, and that's what you want from him,” said Ian Wright, a legend of Arsenal and Palace.

He also leads the Premier League in completed passes between the lines (3.77 per 90 minutes) and, as a special distinction, in March 2025, upon returning from a three-month injury layoff, he became the youngest player since 2004 to create six scoring opportunities in a single match. All this while being a '5' who is increasingly becoming a '6' .

It's no surprise, then, that the prestigious Telegraph included him this month in its list of the 20 best players in the English league. The English Pirlo, as the Daily Mail dubbed him , is poised to command a multi-million pound...or euro...transfermarkt, with Manchester United the most interested party. Currently, Transfermarkt values him at €60 million, and some English media outlets estimate the Red Devils' initial bid at €70 million . A major acquisition for a midfielder who still has some rough edges to smooth, but with the potential to play for a top team .

Edited yesterday at 07:42 by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

I watched the highlights of their latest match. To say he looked disinterested is an understatement.

Didn't pick his man up once. Has his head been turned?

[Upside Down]

29 minutes ago, KentExile said:

https://as.com/futbol/internacional/wharton-minimo-70m-y-sueldo-galactico-f202601-n/

Translated via google from Spanish

 

It wouldn't be surprising if, during more than one Christmas lunch in England, the question arose of why Adam Wharton isn't yet a regular starter for Thomas Tuchel in the England national team, while the fever for the Premier League's hottest midfielder is already spreading beyond its borders . Crystal Palace is watching with anticipation the upcoming bidding war for a player for whom any club that signs him will surely have to surpass the €65 million they received for Eberichi Eze and offer him a galactic salary commensurate with the potential and interest generated by one of the best prospects in modern midfield .

He is not only considered a potential signing for the Premier League's 'Big Four' —Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea (excluding Arsenal, who recently signed Martín Zubimendi, and Tottenham, due to Crystal Palace's excellent form)—but also for Real Madrid , a club that rarely ventures into the British market and is in need of a player with his characteristics, either as an alternative to Tchouameni or as a complement, allowing, for example, Güler to move out of his central midfield role and play further up the pitch to link up with Bellingham and Mbappé. The Englishman has been offered to Real Madrid, who are not currently considering the move.

 

He's not a pure playmaker like Vitinha or Pedri, but rather a midfielder who is both a playmaker and, increasingly, a creative force. A pragmatic hybrid, tactically impeccable, with a significant impact on the game thanks to his intelligence and discipline—although as a midfielder he's not yet fully mature—more mature than his 21 years suggest . This is evidenced by his meteoric rise over the last year and a half. As the infographic below shows, he has nothing to envy in the top five players who occupy his same position in the Premier League, including Zubimendi, Moisés Caicedo, Rodrigo, and Casemiro.

Wharton's 90-minute metrics compared to the top five players in the same position in the Premier League. BeSoccer

He's the best in defensive duels, committing half the fouls needed to do so, and he's also excellent at making progressive passes. In short, he has an innate ability to steal the ball and break lines with his left foot. And he does it vertically, without any frills, as he himself describes it. Frank Lampard has already requested that he take the reins for the Three Lions, and his teammate Declan Rice was impressed in training: "He's top , fantastic."

A magnet for praise

The same left foot that someone who knows that position like Pep Guardiola so well praised: “He’s an excellent midfielder; his impact is incredible .” Rio Ferdinand compared him to Michael Carrick and the BBC , while The Athletic likened him to Sergio Busquets for his low heart rate in critical situations. Glasner, his manager and for whom he is vital (88% of the starting eleven), highlights his “pre-planning ability.” He has a mental scanner. He knows what needs to be done before winning the ball back. What better endorsement for someone who, in just six months, went from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship (the English second division) to being called up by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024 after a €21 million transfer to Crystal Palace? “Surreal,” is how Wharton himself described it.

Moreover, he possesses a commanding presence , as he demonstrated in a recent interview with the club's media after winning their first-ever title, the FA Cup: “If I can speed up the game and create an advantage, I see no reason not to. I'm convinced that, whoever I play against and wherever I play, I can influence the match.” “He'll constantly look for you, even if it's a difficult pass. He looks forward, and that's what you want from him,” said Ian Wright, a legend of Arsenal and Palace.

He also leads the Premier League in completed passes between the lines (3.77 per 90 minutes) and, as a special distinction, in March 2025, upon returning from a three-month injury layoff, he became the youngest player since 2004 to create six scoring opportunities in a single match. All this while being a '5' who is increasingly becoming a '6' .

It's no surprise, then, that the prestigious Telegraph included him this month in its list of the 20 best players in the English league. The English Pirlo, as the Daily Mail dubbed him , is poised to command a multi-million pound...or euro...transfermarkt, with Manchester United the most interested party. Currently, Transfermarkt values him at €60 million, and some English media outlets estimate the Red Devils' initial bid at €70 million . A major acquisition for a midfielder who still has some rough edges to smooth, but with the potential to play for a top team .

No one knew he would be a good player apparently.

[TheKitGuy]

37 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I watched the highlights of their latest match. To say he looked disinterested is an understatement.

Didn't pick his man up once. Has his head been turned?

That's his style of play. He is so calm etc, 99% of the time it is fine however it stands out if something goes wrong. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I watched the highlights of their latest match. To say he looked disinterested is an understatement.

Didn't pick his man up once. Has his head been turned?

He’s being flogged at Palace, too many games in too short a timeframe. He’ll be getting injured again if they aren’t careful. He’s got the mind of a seasoned pro but his body has some catching up to do.

[Comfortably numb]

The perfect description of his ability ....

He has a mental scanner. He knows what needs to be done before winning the ball back. What better endorsement for someone.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 minute ago, Comfortably numb said:

The perfect description of his ability ....

He has a mental scanner. He knows what needs to be done before winning the ball back. What better endorsement for someone.

That’s the thing that stood out when he first made the team. What the powers that be at the club were thinking at the time  is a mystery. He shone like a diamond right from the off. Not many players have impressed so soon in their career.

[Lancaster Rover]

I've said this before but Pasha's line about the academy not knowing he was that good is absolute tosh, from U14 onwards everyone knew he was a joke of a player and was talked about across north west  academies as the next big. It's just another lie from Pasha.

[Mashed Potatoes]

8 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

I've said this before but Pasha's line about the academy not knowing he was that good is absolute tosh, from U14 onwards everyone knew he was a joke of a player and was talked about across north west  academies as the next big. It's just another lie from Pasha.

If he was the next big thing at that age why wasn't he picked for the England age group teams as an academy player ? He had to wait until he was playing first team football.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

50 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

If he was the next big thing at that age why wasn't he picked for the England age group teams as an academy player ? He had to wait until he was playing first team football.

Some times it’s about who you are playing for at the time. 

[Lancaster Rover]

51 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

If he was the next big thing at that age why wasn't he picked for the England age group teams as an academy player ? He had to wait until he was playing first team football.

I said between the north west clubs, if you look at the selections for England age groups teams in both boys and girls they're heavily weighted toward top 6 clubs in the PL. Case in point re that, on the folding of Rovers Ladies, two U17's (who had never received England call ups) moved to Chelsea and City respectively, within 3 weeks of being there they're both in the national set up

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

3 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

I said between the north west clubs, if you look at the selections for England age groups teams in both boys and girls they're heavily weighted toward top 6 clubs in the PL. Case in point re that, on the folding of Rovers Ladies, two U17's (who had never received England call ups) moved to Chelsea and City respectively, within 3 weeks of being there they're both in the national set up

It’s always been the case. A lot depends on who’s picking the team. Those of us old enough will remember second division Middlesbrough having a succession of players selected for the England team. The fact that a ‘ Boro director was on the selection panel was nothing to do with it.

[bigbrandjohn]

10 hours ago, Lancaster Rover said:

I've said this before but Pasha's line about the academy not knowing he was that good is absolute tosh, from U14 onwards everyone knew he was a joke of a player and was talked about across north west  academies as the next big. It's just another lie from Pasha.

So obvious that JDT dropped him as he wasn’t working hard enough. One is in the England team and the other is unemployed. 

[bluebruce]

15 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That’s the thing that stood out when he first made the team. What the powers that be at the club were thinking at the time  is a mystery. He shone like a diamond right from the off. Not many players have impressed so soon in their career.

I'm not sure any player has ever impressed me so much on their debut. Maybe Duff, who I distinctly remember thinking 'why the fuck has this lad been sat in the ressies?'

Wharton was phenomenal that day against Blackpool, especially for an 18 year old. You knew right then he was going to the top.

[Upside Down]

16 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Some times it’s about who you are playing for at the time. 

It's about that all the time.

[MarkBRFC]

7 hours ago, bluebruce said:

I'm not sure any player has ever impressed me so much on their debut. Maybe Duff, who I distinctly remember thinking 'why the fuck has this lad been sat in the ressies?'

Wharton was phenomenal that day against Blackpool, especially for an 18 year old. You knew right then he was going to the top.

Phil Jones on his league debut against Chelsea was superb too, probably more impressive than Wharton's considering the opposition involved.

[roverandout]

If we could put a Rovers youth team graduate 11

 

Raya, LB?, Taylor, Jones, rb?, Wharton, Dunn, cm?, duff, garner,, maybe put wilcox on the right or Johnson 

Edited 9 hours ago by roverandout

[MarkBRFC]

16 minutes ago, roverandout said:

If we could put a Rovers youth team graduate 11

 

Raya, LB?, Taylor, Jones, rb?, Wharton, Dunn, cm?, duff, garner,, maybe put wilcox on the right or Johnson 

Raya

Nyambe Taylor Jones Olsson

Wilcox Dunn Wharton Duff

Garner Beattie

Although Garner and Olsson both played elsewhere before joining us, they both signed for our youth team/academy before turning professional.

[alcd]

35 minutes ago, roverandout said:

If we could put a Rovers youth team graduate 11

 

Raya, LB?, Taylor, Jones, rb?, Wharton, Dunn, cm?, duff, garner,, maybe put wilcox on the right or Johnson 

Garner came from Boston Utd. Would add Mike England and Keith Newton to that lineup. 

[Miller11]

20 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Raya

Nyambe Taylor Jones Olsson

Wilcox Dunn Wharton Duff

Garner Beattie

Although Garner and Olsson both played elsewhere before joining us, they both signed for our youth team/academy before turning professional.

Pains me to say it, but David May over Taylor

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 minute ago, alcd said:

Garner came from Boston Utd. Would add Mike England and Keith Newton to that lineup. 

If you’re going that far back - Fred Pickering instead of Beatie.

[roverandout]

1 minute ago, alcd said:

Garner came from Boston Utd. Would add Mike England and Keith Newton to that lineup. 

My Time was the late 80s onwards. I never watched them. You could add Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton 

[MarkBRFC]

4 minutes ago, alcd said:

Garner came from Boston Utd. Would add Mike England and Keith Newton to that lineup. 

He did, but he signed for Rovers as an apprentice before turning professional 2 years later, so I think he can be included in this.