Blackburn Rovers have rejected an £18.5 million offer for Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace according to a report from David Ornstein.
Wharton has become a key part of Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side this season, and Premier League clubs have begun to take notice of the young midfielder. Crystal Palace are one of those sides, with sporting director Dougie Freedman renowned for his ability to sign young English talents.
The £18.5 million offer for the player has already been rejected due to Rovers deeming the 19-year-old to be worth more. They would also prefer to keep the player on loan until the end of the campaign, but the Eagles are not keen on that deal, wanting him to join the club immediately.
Roy Hodsgon’s side have been without their main defensive midfielder for much of the season after Cheick Doucoure suffered an Achilles tendon injury, with Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma currently tasked with trying to fill the hole left by one of their star men. The bid for Wharton is likely an attempt to ease the pressure on the current players and add a bit of class in the centre of the park.
The English midfielder has made 26 appearances for his side this season, scoring two goals and delivering three assists. The player previously had interest from Manchester United according to Team Talk, but the Reds never made a formal approach for his signature.
Speculation surrounding Hodgson’s future have been rife as of late, but the club are still pushing on with incomings despite that. The side from Selhurst Park have won just one of their last five games, with three defeats in that period.
It is unclear as of right now whether the Eagles will press ahead and send a higher bid to the Championship side for the player. Blackburn face Wrexham in the FA Cup on Monday night, and Wharton will be expected to be part of the match-day squad to face the Welsh side.
Writer’s View
The 19-year-old has all the attributes to become one of the best midfielders in England in the coming years, and it’s no surprise a Freedman-led Palace are the ones trying to sign him. They have signed the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise from the Championship before and developed them into highly rated in the space of two years.
It would be a good move for the development of the player, but Blackburn are looking like they’ll hold firm and keep him until at least the summer.
