Crystal Palace 'linchpin' courted by Arsenal now also 'monitored' by Man Utd

Manchester United are the latest club to join the transfer race for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, with Arsenal and Liverpool previously linked with a move for the 21-year-old.

The Eagles recruited the midfielder from Blackburn Rovers last January, paying £22 million for his services. Wharton has gone on to become a linchpin in midfield for Crystal Palace, making 29 appearances for the club and earning an England call-up for his efforts in the centre of the park.

Known for his ball-winning qualities and ability to turn defence into attack, Wharton has turned the eye of several Premier League rivals. According to CaughtOffside, who also name the Gunners and Reds as suitors, the latest of those in Manchester United.

Man Utd join transfer race for Crystal Palace midfielder

The Red Devils have lacked stature in midfield in another underwhelming season and Ruben Amorim could view Wharton as the solution to those problems. Manchester United would face competition from Serie A giants Juventus, who are thought to be not convinced by the exploits of former Aston Villa man Douglas Luiz.

Amorim has not held back in expressing his need to improve the Red Devils squad at his disposal. In January, Amorim said: "In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two. Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me. So we are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.

"Like I said, I'm not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. Because I'm not naive and I know that we need to survive now.

"We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United. I know that you want headlines, but I'm saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go, your headlines."

Wharton praised for ‘vision’ at Euro 2024

Wharton has proved his capabilities both in the Premier League and on the international stage thanks to his exploits at Euro 2024. Providing punditry during that tournament, former Everton man Leon Osman said: "It's the fact he played with such confidence in such a crucial area of the pitch.

"It's so vital somebody plays the ball to our attackers as quickly as possible and giving them the ball in those dangerous pockets. I think one of the reasons Eberechi Eze has looked so good for Crystal Palace this season is because Wharton has been getting him the ball a lot sooner.

"If you've got someone who isn't just thinking about keeping the ball and buying the extra pass, they're actually thinking about the plan, they can see the vision, they're playing it round the corner to get it into those players, we're going to be a lot more effective in that final third."

In other news, a former Crystal Palace and Manchester United man has hit back at critics following his latest transfer move, insisting that he 'doesn't care'.