Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the North London club now preparing a serious move as they continue to reshape their squad ahead of the new campaign.
The England international has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young midfielders over the past year, and interest in his services shows no signs of slowing down. While Crystal Palace insist they have not received a formal offer for the 21-year-old, several leading clubs are keeping a close watch on his situation.
Liverpool remain among Wharton’s most prominent admirers. The Merseyside club have been tracking his development for some time and are understood to have held discussions with representatives of the player as they consider potential midfield additions.
Manchester United are also firmly in the picture. The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder has long been appreciated at Old Trafford, where recruitment staff continue to monitor his progress following an outstanding spell at Selhurst Park.
However, Tottenham have now intensified their pursuit and are increasingly viewing Wharton as a realistic target.
The club’s midfield department is expected to undergo significant changes this summer following the departure of Yves Bissouma. Senior figures within the club are exploring multiple options as they seek to strengthen the centre of the pitch, with several names currently under consideration.
Sources suggest Tottenham could add as many as three midfielders before the transfer window closes, underlining the scale of the rebuild being planned.
One player already under discussion is Joao Palhinha. Spurs possess an option to make the Portuguese midfielder’s move permanent, although his future remains uncertain. Talks are reportedly taking place with Sporting CP and other interested clubs, leaving Tottenham with an important decision to make in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali and West Ham star Mateus Fernandes continue to feature prominently on Tottenham’s shortlist.
Enquiries have been made regarding both players, but the club recognises that securing either deal would be extremely challenging. Newcastle remain determined to keep hold of Tonali and are expected to demand a fee exceeding £100 million for the Italian international.
Fernandes, meanwhile, has attracted interest from several major European clubs. Manchester United are known admirers, while Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the talented midfielder.
Against that backdrop, Wharton is increasingly viewed as one of Tottenham’s most attainable elite targets.
Those within the club are said to believe his technical ability, intelligence in possession and composure under pressure would make him an ideal fit for the style of football they hope to establish moving forward. His ability to dictate the tempo of matches and contribute defensively has only strengthened his reputation over the past 12 months.
The biggest obstacle remains Crystal Palace’s stance.
The Eagles have consistently maintained that they are under no pressure to sell one of their prized assets and have not entered negotiations with any interested club. Palace are fully aware of Wharton’s growing value and would be expected to demand a substantial fee before even considering a sale.
For now, Tottenham’s interest is genuine, but whether Palace are willing to listen remains the question that could define Wharton’s future this summer.
