Tottenham Hotspur target Adam Wharton puts off Crystal Palace exit until 2026
ottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of rising England midfield star Adam Wharton will have to wait, with the 21-year-old Crystal Palace talent deciding to remain at Selhurst Park for the upcoming season. While this development is a setback in the short term, it doesn’t signal the end of Spurs’ interest, far from it.
According to The Sun, Wharton has shelved any potential transfer talks for the time being, despite strong interest from both Tottenham and Liverpool. The North London club had hoped to hijack the Reds’ long-standing pursuit, believing Wharton would be a tailor-made fit for Thomas Frank’s evolving midfield unit. But for now, the message is clear: Wharton stays at Palace.
Palace Reluctant to Sell Amidst Squad Uncertainty
Crystal Palace are already bracing for the likely departures of key men Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze before the window closes on September 1st. That has forced them to tighten their grip on Wharton, who they view as a cornerstone of their midfield for the 2024–25 season.
Having joined the Eagles for £18 million from Blackburn Rovers just 15 months ago, the England international has seen his stock rise rapidly under Oliver Glasner. Even an injury-hit campaign that included a groin operation couldn’t prevent Wharton from earning a surprise call-up to England’s Euro 2024 squad. Now tied down until 2029 and with a 15% sell-on clause due to Blackburn, Palace are under no pressure to sell, and would demand a hefty premium if tempted to do so.
From Tottenham’s side, this isn’t the end of the road. Wharton is still seen internally as an ideal long-term addition. Technically gifted, tactically disciplined, and capable of dictating tempo from deep, he would bring balance to a midfield currently undergoing transformation under Postecoglou.
Though Liverpool are reportedly still favourites due to their long-standing interest and recent restructuring, Spurs believe Wharton could be swayed by the promise of a more immediate first-team role and a system better suited to his skill set. The player may have put his move on hold, but the door remains very much open especially as Tottenham remain confident they’ll be in a strong financial and sporting position to return for him next summer.
Slow and steady wins the race
Wharton staying at Crystal Palace for another year is disappointing, but not disastrous. The truth is, Tottenham were always trying to act opportunistically this summer, attempting to pounce on a player whose future seemed in flux.
But in some ways, this delay may work in our favour. By next summer, Spurs will have a more refined midfield structure, and Wharton, with another season of Premier League experience under his belt, could arrive even more prepared to make an instant impact.
Let Liverpool burn their budget. If Wharton continues to progress and if Palace are forced into a rebuild post-Eze and Guehi, the landscape next summer could shift heavily in our favour.
