Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are leading the race to sign Crystal Palace midfield sensation Adam Wharton.

The English international has made quite a name for himself with his consistent performances in the Premier League, and there is no shortage of interest in his services. According to a report from Fichajes, Chelsea are frontrunners to sign the Crystal Palace sensation.

Adam Wharton was a part of the Blackburn Rovers setup back in the day. He went up the ranks at some pace and got promoted to the first team in the summer of 2022. After making a name for himself while playing for the first team, he ended up joining the Eagles at the start of 2024.

The 21-year-old has only gone from strength to strength since. He established himself as a key figure in Palace’s first team in no time, and his performances and massive potential have resulted in a lot of interest from across Europe.

Wharton has shown maturity beyond his years. The defensive midfielder is widely regarded as one of the best young players in his position. He is not only exceptional defensively but also excels in ball distribution and controlling the tempo of games.

On the back of his performances, Chelsea have identified him as a priority target for the medium-term. The Blues are constantly on the lookout for young players with massive potential, and Wharton certainly fits the bill.

Chelsea are keen on signing Wharton

The London club already have Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in their ranks, but they want to strengthen their rotation by signing the 21-year-old, as Romeo Lavia has struggled to stay fit.

While Wharton could solve quite a few problems at Stamford Bridge, signing him won’t be that straightforward. The Eagles won’t let him leave on the cheap. With his contract running until 2029, Palace are under no pressure to negotiate his departure.

They would want a significant financial package to let him leave. The Blues will have to make room for his signing and integrate him into their squad without disrupting the dressing room.

While Chelsea are believed to be frontrunners at this point, they are well aware of the increasing interest in the youngster and need to act quickly to ensure they do not miss out on him.