Sources: Crystal Palace respond to Blackburn Rovers’ Wharton demands – they ‘want him now’
Crystal Palace are not willing to loan Blackburn Rovers midfielder Adam Wharton back to the Championship club for the rest of the season, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (26 January) that Palace are not giving up on a deal for Wharton, 19, as they look to beat Tottenham to his signature.
The Croydon club have already seen a bid of £18.5million rejected and are ready to return with a new offer.
Blackburn are reluctant to lose the teenager this month and will hold out for £25million – and are also keen to see Wharton loaned back to Ewood Park for the remainder of the season.
The Lancashire side are struggling for form and are nine points above the relegation zone in the Championship.
However, a well-placed source has told Football Insider that Palace want Wharton to come in “now” and will not entertain loaning him back.
Roy Hodgson’s side are in desperate need of new bodies as they attempt to turn the tide in the Premier League.
Cheick Doucoure suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury last year and could be out of action until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Wharton signed a fresh long-term contract at Ewood Park just last month, keeping him at the club until June 2028.
He has made 29 appearances this term – notching two goals and three assists.
The teenager played 51 times for his boyhood club in total since making his first-team breakthrough in the 2022-23 campaign.
Crystal Palace sit 15th in the Premier League table amid growing speculation about Hodgson’s future.
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