Chelsea Sets Sights on Crystal Palace Star Adam Wharton for January Move

Chelsea are intensifying interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.

The depth of options in the midfield would be needed, especially since Romeo Lavia’s consistent injuries continue to affect the club.

Enzo Maresca seeks to bolster his current players with fresh talent. Wharton has been shortlisted by Chelsea after a few impressive performances from him at Palace this season.

The 21-year old has shown multiple times this season that he is capable of controlling games through his passing and vision, which fit in well with Enzo Maresca’s style of play.

According to TeamTalk, Chelsea believes that Wharton is one player who could hit the ground running.

His reading of the game and passing have drawn more than a few scouts to keep an eye on him.

The Palace fans have been able to watch some of those skills, but now Chelsea wants to take those talents to Stamford Bridge.

Initially, Chelsea had intended to wait until the summer of 2026 to approach Wharton. Now they are, however, open to potentially moving that forward. The club is in such a position at present that it cannot take chances whereby it would have to act later rather than sooner.

A serious concern for Maresca has been Romeo Lavia’s fitness woes. The Belgian international certainly looks very promising when he is fit, but injuries have prevented him from playing very often.

This leaves Chelsea quite light in the middle of the park, thereby increasing Wharton’s attractiveness.

The Blues think he will provide Chelsea with the kind of coverage they need while having something different from the current midfield options.

His composure on the ball as well as his ability to dictate any tempo of game would give Maresca more options in the setup of his team.

Palace wouldn’t want to lose one of their best players in mid-season, but Chelsea seems confident they can negotiate.

The Blues have a good relationship with Palace from previous transfers, which could help smooth any potential talks.

Wharton has already become quite important to Palace, as he entered their first team.

The English youth coaches have not overlooked his performances, which means that a transfer to a bigger club may open more prospects for him in the senior national team.

The midfielder is of the perfect style for the modern game. He is happy taking the ball under pressure and can thread passes that one or two others might miss.

These attributes have made him one who stands out among the Palace side, which has impressed most people this season.

The Blues in recent times have the mission of signing young players, and their interest in Wharton indicates that they are seriously maintaining their goal of signing young talents for the future.

Adam Wharton is just 21 years of age, and this gives him the opportunity to grow into a player that could be very important for the club for many years.

Competition from Premier League Rivals

Chelsea does not have an obvious pathway to signing Wharton either. The Eagles midfielder has been on the radar for many teams.

Top English teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are all monitoring the English midfielder.

Therefore, if Chelsea wants to sign him without twists and turns, they might need to act fast if they want to acquire him.

The bidding war over Wharton’s signature is likely to inflate his transfer fee. Palace will surely be aware of the interests from various top clubs and will want to get the best possible deal for their player, therefore complicating negotiations with all parties concerned.

Interest from Liverpool is particularly significant due to their good record with developing young midfield talent.

United are also rebuilding their squad and think of Wharton as someone who could be in their long-term plans. Newcastle, with its ambitious owners, can match the financial clout of anyone.

However, Chelsea considers they have advantages over rivals. The club’s location in London could appeal to Wharton, who will not have to move far from his current base. Chelsea’s cup success of late and their European aspirations can be another attractive selling point.

The Blues have also shown they are willing to give young players a chance in the first team. This may be crucial in convincing Wharton that Chelsea represents the right move for his career development.

Maresca’s style could sway Wharton toward Chelsea. The manager wants his teams to play attacking, possession-based football, which would put Wharton’s strengths right on display. This match in tactics could be a deciding factor for the club in this case.

Chelsea had also looked at Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as an alternative option. However, sources suggest a deal for the Cameroonian would be much harder to achieve, especially come January. This makes Wharton an even more appealing target for the Blues.

The January transfer window is never easy for buying clubs. Players are often not willing to leave due to how well their clubs are performing, or their clubs are reluctant to sell mid-season.

However, Romeo Lavia’s consistent injury will force Chelsea to find a way and complete the deal in January since they are competing in both domestic and European leagues.

If they manage to sign Adam Wharton in January, it would provide Enzo Maresca with more options in his midfield and will ease the pressure of one player playing 3-4 matches in a row.

The deal would declare Chelsea’s commitment to the future while catering to immediate requirements. Wharton is the type of player who could serve the club well for many years to come.