Real Madrid scouts have checked on Adam Wharton since his return to first-team action at Crystal Palace.
Juni Calafat, chief scout with the Spanish giants, is a confirmed admirer of the 21-year-old England international and Madrid staff have been sent to monitor the Palace midfielder’s progress.
Wharton, who is expected to be named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, has recently returned to action after a longer than expected spell out following hernia surgery.
Manchester City had been expected to make a move for him in the January window, but his injury came at the wrong time with the Premier League champions eventually plumping for Nico Gonzalez from Porto.
Manchester United and Liverpool are also among Wharton’s admirers, but they have other priorities for the summer window.
Palace bought Wharton from Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth £22million after sporting director Dougie Freedman pushed to sign him ahead of other Premier League rivals but he is now valued around £70m after establishing himself as one of the best holding midfielders in the top flight.
Adam Wharton has impressed in the Crystal Palace midfield since his recent return from injury
Carlo Ancelotti’s men has dispatched scouts to watch the Englishman since his return to first team action
Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat is a confirmed admirer of the 21-year-old, who is expected to be named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad
Coach Oliver Glasner has eased Wharton back into action during February following the hernia surgery and he was man of the match in his first start in the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last week – under the gaze of Tuchel – and Madrid will continue to monitor his progress as they consider options ahead of the summer.
Palace, who face London rivals Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals, are braced for a summer of enquiries for key players with Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta also attracting interest from elite clubs.
