Real Madrid target Wharton after Eze deal

Crystal Palace faces a tough summer as Eze moves to Arsenal and Madrid circle midfielder Adam Wharton.

Real Madrid eye 70m transfer for Adam Wharton after Eze deal

Crystal Palace have agreed a 67 million pound transfer for Eberechi Eze with Arsenal, ending weeks of speculation and hijacking earlier offers from other clubs. Eze did not feature in Palace’s 1-0 Conference League win over Fredrikstad as he finalises the move to the Emirates, a deal that marks a high point in Palace’s recent recruitment drive and a personal milestone for the player.

Spanish outlet Diario AS reports Real Madrid are weighing a 70 million pound bid for Adam Wharton, a 21-year-old England international midfielder on whose profile Madrid believe they can build a long-term engine in the middle of the park. The piece says Wharton fits the “exact profile” Madrid want and is well regarded at the Bernabeu, where Xabi Alonso is said to admire him. Palace would reportedly demand a price near or above the Eze fee, and any more exits would anger manager Oliver Glasner, already navigating a busy and sensitive summer window. Madrid have spent heavily this season, and balancing the books remains a consideration as they eye options to replace the departures of Kroos and Modric.

The week’s headlines show a wider trend: big clubs chasing high-potential youngsters as a hedge against aging stars and shifting squad needs. Arsenal’s success in hijacking Eze’s move signals their intent to improve quickly, while Madrid’s interest in Wharton underlines a preference for players who can influence tempo and possession from the middle. For Palace, the tension is real: sell to fund reinforment or risk a talent drain that could slow their rebuilding. The club’s willingness to price others out of a bid can backfire if it erodes confidence in the squad and in Glasner’s plan. Madrid’s approach also raises questions about how quickly a team with trophies on the shelf can balance ambition with financial prudence. The outcomes will depend on who can deliver on potential and who bears the market’s price tag without undermining long-term strategy.

Highlights

The coming days will reveal whether these moves sharpen the clubs' futures or deepen the painful costs of rapid turnover.