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Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid eyeing Tottenham midfield target

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 9:59 PM ET

Tottenham Hotspur-linked Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton is being eyed by several European heavyweights

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of a creative midfielder finally came to fruition on Friday when they announced the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

Spurs pipped London rivals Chelsea to the signing of Xavi Simons and have handed him the No.7 shirt vacated by former skipper Son Heung-min. He has joined the Lilywhites on a contract until 2030, with an option to extend it by two years, and the Netherlands international will be looking to cement his place in Thomas Frank’s XI in James Maddison’s long-term injury absence.

In addition to a No.10, the Lilywhites have been also interested in a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. In his 18 months at Crystal Palace, the Englishman has become a key component in Oliver Glasner’s side. He was instrumental in the Eagles winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield in the span of just three months.

However, Crystal Palace have no interest in parting ways with the talented midfielder before the transfer window slams shut next week. They have slapped an eye-watering £100m price tag on Adam Wharton, which has scared off Tottenham. However, that is not the case with other European bigwigs.

European trio eyeing £100m-rated Adam Wharton

According to an exclusive report from CaughtOffside, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all showing a strong interest in the potential move for Wharton. Palace are anticipating offers for the 21-year-old late in the transfer window, although they hope to deter the suitors with their £100m valuation of the player, after having already sold star playmaker Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last week and on the verge of parting ways with skipper Marc Guehi.

Tottenham made “direct contact with Palace before the Community Shield” over the England international, though things have not moved ahead since then, one source told CaughtOffside. As per reports from earlier this summer, Liverpool remain favourites to sign Wharton from Palace. The player has decided to stay at Selhurst Park for another season and then decide to make a concrete decision on the next step in his career.

One of the hottest young English talents, Wharton is also on the radar of Manchester United. The Mancunian giants may also concretely enter the race for his signature in the future but a move would be dependant on their pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, the aforementioned report adds.

Difficult deal for Tottenham next year

If Wharton stays at Palace beyond this transfer window, which looks very likely, Tottenham are certain to have obstacles to bring him to N17 next summer. The presence of European heavyweights, their financial muscle and projects would make it difficult for Spurs to lure the 21-year-old away from Selhurst Park.

The Englishman is not a £100m player right now. He has the talent and potential to become one in the future, and the midfielder’s wide range of suitors are wary of that. A high-profile move seems inevitable for Wharton, even if it doesn’t happen this summer.

The deep-lying playmaker may have decided to stay put at Palace for another year, but the door remains very much open especially if Tottenham can be in a strong financial and sporting position to challenge the European heavyweights for him next summer.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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