Adam Wharton: Manchester City and Liverpool Eye Rising Star

Manchester City and Liverpool are circling Adam Wharton – and Crystal Palace know exactly what they’ve got on their hands.

City’s midfield has been ripped open by Rodri’s departure to Barcelona, a seismic exit that leaves a Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner to replace. They have already thrown £116 million ($158m) at Elliot Anderson in this window, but the chequebook may have to come back out. Wharton, 22, is firmly on their radar.

He has earned that attention. Since arriving at Selhurst Park from Blackburn for £18m ($25m), Wharton’s rise has been sharp and relentless. Across two-and-a-half seasons he has helped Palace collect the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League, a haul that has transformed both his reputation and his price tag.

City are not alone in tracking him. Liverpool have kept a close eye on his development and, if the market erupts around Wharton, the expectation is that they would be in the thick of any bidding war. For a club reshaping its midfield on the fly, the attraction is obvious.

Ray Houghton certainly sees it. The former Liverpool and Palace midfielder, twice a First Division champion at Anfield, believes Wharton would fit seamlessly on Merseyside.

“I listen to people who I've played with and who've got a good eye for midfielders. I know Jan Molby, he's a big fan of Adam. He spoke about him highly on numerous occasions and I trust Jan's judgment. He knows the game, he knows the position. He feels that there's a real player in there that can do well,” Houghton told GOAL, speaking courtesy of Football Betting.

This is not just second-hand admiration. Houghton has met Wharton and come away impressed.

“I spoke to Adam, actually, when they [Palace] beat Liverpool last season. I was at the game and after the match I was talking to Mark Bright and Adam came out. He’s a really down-to-earth lad, really, really lovely kid. It was a joy to speak to him and just listen to him and he just wants to be the best that he can.

“He's got a great attitude. If anyone was to ask me, what do you think of Adam Wharton, I'd say great attitude. He wants to be successful. He's got all the ingredients there for being a top player.”

That is exactly why Palace are wary of becoming a production line for the elite. Marc Guehi has already gone. Maxence Lacroix has followed. Key pieces keep moving out of south London.

“At the minute, the only worry with Palace is they can't keep selling players. [Marc] Guehi went and now [Maxence] Lacroix's gone and they're moving players around. To have any modicum of success, you can't keep doing that. You look at what they've won, three trophies they've been involved in. One thing you don't want to do is keep changing players,” Houghton warned.

Yet the reality is brutal. When the giants knock, players listen.

“If a club like Liverpool comes knocking for you, you're going to be tempted, aren't you? Simple as that if you're Adam Wharton. It's just whether he's the right fit for the manager and that's what it'll come down to. At the moment, I still think Liverpool need a few additions before they really get going.”

Palace, for their part, will not let him go cheaply. Having paid £18m, they expect at least four times that to even consider a sale, with the full package potentially pushing towards – and even into – nine figures if the market catches fire.

Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison has already laid down the numbers he believes it will take to prise Wharton away.

“Yeah, £60m, £70m - if someone wants to pay £80m, I think they’d bite your hand off. But yeah, definitely at least £60-70 million.

“If you look at how young he is and the talent he’s got, and the clubs that will be knocking on the door for him, then Palace are right to say £60-70 million. It’s good money for another player they’ve developed. He’s a top player.

“But yeah, he’s got all the attributes and there will come a time where he needs to go to one of the top four or five teams, or maybe go and play in Europe, because you need to keep improving yourself as a player.”

So the stage is set. City need a new heartbeat after Rodri. Liverpool still crave extra quality to finish their rebuild. Palace hold a midfielder whose value climbs with every passing month.

At some point, someone will test just how hard Crystal Palace are prepared to grip Adam Wharton.