Crystal Palace could soon see January arrival, Adam Wharton, follow in the footsteps of star players Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in one key way.
Crystal Palace enjoyed a successful shopping spree in the January transfer window, as Steve Parish and Roy Hodgson welcomed two new names to bolster the first team.
Now, Oliver Glasner is heavily benefiting from the purchases of both Adam Wharton and Daniel Munoz, who have both become integral parts of the Austrian’s plans for the squad going forward.
The Eagles spent £8.5m on former Genk defender, Munoz, and agreed a deal in the region of £22m for Wharton, mere expenses for two players that have greatly impressed since arriving at Selhurst Park.
Adam Wharton has impressed since joining Crystal Palace
When Palace signed Wharton from Championship side Blackburn Rovers, not many would have expected the 20-year-old to settle so quickly to life in the top flight.
At the point of his arrival in the Premier League, Parish described the club as being the “perfect place” for the midfielder to unlock his “undoubted potential”, something that he is already doing after less than two months.
When watching Wharton, it’s clear to see what the Eagles liked about the player to spend £22m on him, with his ability to control games in the engine room an innate strength to have at such a young age.
U23 scout Antonio Mango once lauded the Englishman as being “outstanding” at building play, something that has been traceable since he transitioned to the top flight.
Adam Wharton could become Crystal Palace’s next valuable asset
Currently, Palace are very much aware that they are sitting on a bit of a gold mine by having the talents of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in their ranks.
The overall quality of the duo over the years has fuelled a host of speculation over their futures and their price tags, with an exit for either one of the superstars set to provide the Eagles with a healthy profit.
In even more of a plus, both players recently signed refreshed contracts at Selhurst Park, immediately boosting their value if other clubs were to express an interest in the summer.
When looking at the form and potential of Wharton, it could now be said that the 20-year-old is heading in a similar direction to the intricate pair, with his value only set to rise if his quality continues to expand.
The midfielder has already started to show how important he is to Glasner’s system, with him ranking in third at the club when it comes to his average of 1.7 key passes and 2.7 tackles per game, as well as being second best when it comes to interceptions, 1.3 per game, via WhoScored.
At just 20 years old, Wharton’s stance in the manager’s regime is only set to get stronger, putting his value and future price tag in a good position to rocket as he continues to develop.
The £22m spent on the young Englishman could prove to be one of Parish’s biggest bargains in years to come however, only time will tell just how high the midfielder’s ceiling really is.
