Wharton’s rise has naturally attracted interest and sparked talk that he could be prised away for around £100 million. However, Palace sources suggest that expectation is premature.
The club are determined to protect their position after a period of significant turnover and are not planning to make Wharton available unless their situation forces it.
The Eagles are up to fourth in the Premier League and determined not to let the side fall apart. They have already lost Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze over the past couple of seasons, and they are preparing for Marc Guehi to depart as a free agent at the end of the current campaign.
With those departures in mind, senior figures are intent on avoiding further disruption to the core of the squad. Adding to the uncertainty is the unresolved future of manager Oliver Glasner, who has yet to renew his contract.
His decision is going to have a knock-on impact for how Palace make big decisions on key players in the squad, including Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daniel Munoz - both of whom are open to stepping up to bigger clubs depending on the direction of the project.
Sources insist Palace will not allow their squad to unravel to the extent being suggested.
Beyond Guehi, they are prepared to play tough, and any discussions over key players will be shaped by Glasner’s next move. Midfielder Wharton’s future is central to the situation.
Tottenham remain interested and believe he would be an era-defining addition if they could pull it off. His profile fits perfectly - even if the anticipated price tag would be very high. They are going to have a big transfer kitty available across the next two transfer windows.
Manchester United are very keen on Wharton too and have identified him - alongside Elliot Anderson - as one of their top midfield targets for 2026. United want to reinforce their midfield aggressively and see Wharton as a player who can anchor the rebuild.
Manchester City are also admirers. As they search for a midfielder of the next generation, Wharton remains high on their shortlist, though Anderson is similarly under consideration, as reported recently. City’s growing demand for fresh midfield profiles ensures they will remain in the conversation.
Despite all this interest, Wharton has not been given any guarantees over a transfer, and Palace are not providing any positive indication that they are preparing to sanction one.
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