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Pep Guardiola’s side might compete with Liverpool for a player seen as a potential replacement for their Real Madrid-linked star.
Manchester City and Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace's 20-year-old midfielder Adam Wharton, as per Football Insider.
Wharton’s Premier League rise
The talented young player has impressed since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers in January, contributing three goals and three assists in 16 Premier League matches.
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Wharton's performances earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024, although he did not see any playing time. Despite this, he has continued to impress for Palace this season, starting all three of their league matches at the start of the 2024-25 season.
While Palace's current form is a concern, they are under no pressure to sell the 20-year-old midfielder, who is under contract until 2029 and could command a significant profit on their initial investment — reported to be an initial fee of £18 million, which could potentially rise to £22 million.
Why Man City and Liverpool want Wharton
Man City's interest in Wharton is partly motivated by uncertainty surrounding Rodri's future.
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The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and City may be preparing a lucrative contract offer to retain him but could consider Wharton if a deal cannot be agreed.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have been actively seeking a new defensive midfielder, underlined by making a strong effort to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but were unsuccessful.
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Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister can also play that role, but Liverpool is still considering adding another defensive midfielder to their squad next year.
What comes next?
Man City and Liverpool have stayed unblemished in the Premier League this season and return to action against Brentford and Nottingham Forest respectively on September 14.
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