'Man City scouts chase Adam Wharton' after key development
Man City scouts are keeping tabs on the progress of Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton following his return from injury.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that City are set to make assessments about his level of performance.
Wharton, 21, made his first start for the Eagles since October in their 2-0 FA Cup win against Doncaster as he helped his side progress into the fifth round.
City view the England international as a potential long-term replacement for Rodri and were impressed by his displays after joining from Blackburn last season.
However, injuries have derailed his progress at Selhurst Park for now, and scouts are now keeping tabs on his progress to assess the impact of his absence.
Wharton suffered a groin injury while on international duty at Euro 2024 and played through it in the first half of this season before undergoing surgery at the start of November.
Following a couple of setbacks in training, he has now returned to Oliver Glasner's starting XI and will look to pick up where he left off.
Adam Wharton return from injury puts Man City on alert
Brown previously told Football Insider that Wharton would have to prove he can bounce back at Palace from his injury issues before clubs are prepared to make a move for him.
Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that this is the ideal time for him to return to the Palace starting XI.
"Scouts will be watching him to see how he reacts after his injuries," he told Football Insider.
"He started off really well at Palace after he joined from Blackburn last season, became a key player for them and got himself into the England squad.
"But then he picked up this injury and it's as if he's got to start all over again.
"When you miss as long as he has done, you have to come back and pick up where you left off, because there are always going to be concerns.
"It's an ideal time for him to be coming back, between now and the end of the season where he'll be starting more regularly and contributing to the team.
"The interest is there based on what he did last season.
"Now, they'll be hoping the injury hasn't had too much of an impact - as will Palace of course.
"That's the first thing, then they'll weigh up whether or not he's the right man to replace Rodri, if that's what his role at City would be.
"But that's a separate matter entirely until he's fully fit and firing again."
Crystal Palace respond to Barcelona and City interest in Daniel Munoz
Another Palace star who has attracted interest from Pep Guardiola's side is the right-back Daniel Munoz, who has been a consistent presence in Glasner's starting XI.
Barcelona and Chelsea have also shown an interest in his performances, and could join the race to sign him at the end of the season.
However, Brown told Football Insider on 11 February that the Eagles have no interest in selling Munoz, as he remains a crucial part of their plans for the future.
A "huge" offer would be likely to tempt them into a sale, though, as it would represent a significant profit on the £7million paid to bring him to South London last year.
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