Chelsea 'confident' of beating rivals to sign Adam Wharton after new twist

Chelsea are confident they can move ahead of their rivals in the race to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton this summer.

The 22-year-old has been watched closely by a number of Europe’s elite clubs amid a feeling he could be lured away from Selhurst Park before the start of the new season.

However, interest from the likes of Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham is believed to have faded, opening the door for Chelsea to swoop in unopposed.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Chelsea are not afraid to spend big in their pursuit of Wharton as they eye an overhaul of their squad.

Following the arrival of Xabi Alonso, whose former club Real Madrid are also big admirers of Wharton, the Blues hope to back their manager with a number of new additions.

The Crystal Palace midfielder ranks highly among their targets, having helped his side win the FA Cup and Conference League in the last two seasons.

Could Chelsea beat rivals to sign Adam Wharton?

Football Insider revealed on 3 July that Liverpool's interest in Wharton has cooled as Andoni Iraola is prioritising other targets after assessing his current options.

That came as a huge boost to Chelsea's chances, and they are now preparing to step up their interest, having been big admirers of his displays at Crystal Palace.

Palace are set to demand a significant fee for Wharton, but the money on offer at Stamford Bridge could test their resolve and tempt them into selling.

"I have no doubt Chelsea will have been keeping an eye on Adam Wharton," Brown told Football Insider.

"He's had an excellent season for Crystal Palace, and midfielders are coming at a premium this summer, with other clubs already snapping up their top targets.

"Chelsea want to improve their squad and back Xabi Alonso with new additions, and when it comes to those who might be available, Wharton does stand out.

"Crystal Palace aren't going to let him go easily, but Chelsea have never been shy when it comes to spending money, so I wouldn't expect them to be put off by the asking price.

"They'll be confident they have what it takes to get a deal done, especially if the other clubs interested in him look like they might walk away.

"They're certainly interested, and if they can beat other clubs to get him in it would be a real coup, but the only question mark is whether they need a new midfielder.

"They've got Enzo Fernandez still in there at the moment, with Moises Caicedo next to him, and Cole Palmer a bit further forward, so where does Wharton fit in?

"The money isn't an issue, but they're not going to spend a fee like that in a position where they've already got plenty of quality and depth."

How do Crystal Palace feel about selling Wharton?

Despite the growing interest in Wharton from clubs both in the Premier League and across Europe, any move will hinge on Palace’s willingness to sell.

The England international has three years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, placing the Eagles in a strong position to dictate his future.

Football Insider revealed last week that Crystal Palace are confident of keeping Wharton and have set a huge asking price on the midfielder to deter potential suitors.

This comes after Elliot Anderson joined Man City for £116million, and both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali joined Spurs for £85m and £100m respectively.

Palace believe Wharton ranks in the same bracket as those big names, and are now prepared to demand a similar fee, with no pressure on them to sell this summer.