Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly keen on signing the Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton on deadline day.

According to a report by TBR Football, Manchester United and Tottenham made late approaches for the Adam Wharton, who cost Crystal Palace £18 million nearly two years ago. However, Crystal Palace turned down the prospective suitors. The Eagles would not have been able to replace him properly, and it would not have made any sense to let the player leave.

The 21-year-old is a phenomenal talent with a bright future, and he is on Chelsea’s radar as well. He has all the attributes to develop into a top-class player. The English international is already a reliable performer in the Premier League.

Manchester United need more quality and depth in the middle of the park, and the England international would have been an exceptional acquisition. He would have added control and defensive cover to the side. There is no doubt that Wharton has the qualities to play for the biggest clubs in the country, and he would’ve been an ideal acquisition for Manchester United.

On the other hand, Tottenham need more control in the midfield as well. The 21-year-old could have been the ideal partner for Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr. It will be interesting to see if the two clubs decide to come back for the 21-year-old midfielder next summer. Crystal Palace will not want to let him leave easily, and they could demand a premium.

Chelsea keen on Wharton

On the other hand, Chelsea are keeping tabs on the Crystal Palace midfielder as well. It will be interesting to see how they accommodate him in the starting lineup. Enzo Maresca has players like Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo at their disposal. The 21-year-old is unlikely to join a club where he might not be a regular starter. He needs to play regularly at this stage of his career.

The opportunity to join the biggest clubs in the world will be quite exciting for the youngster. Adam Wharton has the talent to develop into a top-class player, and joining the right club could bring out the best in him. He will want to fight for elite trophies regularly, and Crystal Palace will not be able to provide him with that platform. However, staying at the London club is ideal for his development right now.