Chelsea join race to sign €30m English wonderkid

Cameron Smith

• 28 Jan 2024 14:06 CST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are set to rival Crystal Palace in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers wonderkid Adam Wharton, according to reports.

The Blues have adapted their transfer policy in order to sign the best young talents in world football over the past 18 months and Wharton is reportedly next on their list.

The 19-year-old midfielder has shone for Blackburn since breaking into the first-team last year, and he has been touted for a Premier League move over the past few months.

Crystal Palace and Chelsea are now both interested in signing Wharton, with the latter recently joining the race, according to The Sun.

Wharton reportedly impressed Chelsea’s hierarchy during Blackburn’s 2-0 defeat against the Blues in the Carabao Cup earlier this season and they are now ready to pursue his signature.

As for Crystal Palace, they are hoping for another Championship success story after landing the likes of Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze from the second tier of English football in recent years.

However, Roy Hodgson’s side have seen a €21.6 million (£18.5m) offer turned down by Blackburn during the January window, with Rovers holding out for a fee of €29.2m (£25m).

The teenager has made 51 senior appearances for Blackburn, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

Should Adam Wharton join Chelsea or Crystal Palace?

A move to Crystal Palace makes far more sense than joining Chelsea for Wharton.

Firstly, the Eagles have a great success rate when it comes to Championship transfers, as mentioned above, and the lack of midfield depth means Wharton would likely become an immediate starter at Selhurst Park.

Furthermore, Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei are living proof that joining Chelsea isn’t necessarily a good career step for young midfielders.

The former barely featured at all on loan at Nottingham Forest and wasted six months of development in the process, while the latter looks unlikely to break into the Blues first-team amid serious competition for places.

Chelsea have spent big money on midfield upgrades over the past year and while Wharton is a fabulous talent, he wouldn’t be handed significant first-team minutes for several seasons and would be shipped out on loan instead.

Developing at Crystal Palace would therefore be a far more sensible choice and allow him to realise his immense potential.