Crystal Palace star 'getting closer' to move as Premier League rivals given green light for five-year deal
An update has emerged on the future of a key Crystal Palace player linked with a move away
These are nervous times for Crystal Palace fans as the Eagles continue to lose games on the pitch, while key members of the squad begin slowly to be stripped away.
Oliver Glasner has done a wonderful job at Selhurst Park and all is by no means lost, but it will soon reach a point where the Austrian must turn things around or else he may not even see out the remainder of the season before departing.
The Eagles are now just eight points above the bottom three and are in dire need of a victory or two to ease their concerns, without a win in any competition in 11 matches since mid-December.
Palace have brought in Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur to strengthen in attacking areas in this window but sold their captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City for £20million, with his deal set to expire in the summer. They will hope to avoid further major exits before the window is up.
Adam Wharton to Liverpool transfer latest
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is ‘getting closer’ to a move to Liverpool according to reports by leading Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, who claims Wharton has already ‘given his availability’ for a five-year deal at Anfield.
The 21-year-old is believed to be valued at around £80m by the Eagles and a summer move had previously been touted. Reports do not confirm whether these latest developments make a January transfer more likely to go ahead.
Schira wrote on X: “Adam Wharton is getting closer to Liverpool from Crystal Palace. The midfielder has already given his availability to join LFC with a 5-years contract.”
Wharton was sent off for the first time in his professional career on Sunday, seeing his marching orders for two bookable offences in quick succession as Palace were beaten 3-1 at home by London rivals Chelsea. The former Blackburn Rovers academy product expressed clear frustration while leaving the pitch, telling a worrying picture as discussion around his future continues.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid have previously been linked with a swoop for Wharton, but it appears that Liverpool may be in the driving seat at present.
‘We can only help ourselves’ - Glasner reflects on defeat
Reflecting on Sunday’s defeat at Selhurst Park which saw multiple key decisions go against his side including Wharton’s dismissal, Glasner made clear his frustration while emphasising that his side need to do better in order to pick up results.
"I could easily blame the referee for a few decisions,” said Glasner. "Caicedo had two fouls in the first half and conceded one yellow. Adam had two and conceded two yellows.
"I watched the penalty back and it hit Jaydee’s hip first. We were briefed before the season that if the ball touches the body first and then hits the hand, it’s not handball. Pedro Neto stamped on Ismaila Sarr. VAR has to intervene, it’s a clear stamp – it should have been a red card.
"But, to be honest, it feels wrong to blame the referee because he can’t help us in the future. We can only help ourselves. That’s why I think it’s important to talk about ourselves."