Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has responded to renewed reports linking Adam Wharton with Manchester United, insisting the club is under no immediate pressure to sell the midfielder.

Reports in the English press say Manchester United have joined the list of suitors, with manager Ruben Amorim said to have specifically requested Wharton as a replacement for Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Parish addressed that speculation during an appearance on talkSPORT and made clear Palace’s stance.

“If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, that’s nothing surprising really about that,” Parish said.

“The fact of the matter is he’s got a long contract to run. There’s no pressure on us to do it, and I don’t think there’s any real pressure from the player either.”

Palace are understood to be keen to reward Wharton’s emergence by offering a new contract, but Parish acknowledged competition for the midfielder’s signature will complicate talks. The chairman also warned that the player’s ambitions could ultimately be a factor.

“I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club,” he continued.

Parish stressed Wharton’s focus remains on Palace and on building consistent game time after a disrupted previous season.

“He’s an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can’t speak for Adam, but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace.

“He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had that a lot of young players get. I think this season he’s completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday or Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It’s a difficult programme for us right now.

“I think he’s very committed to the club. I don’t know where all this stuff comes from.”

Palace’s negotiating position, Parish indicated, is strengthened by Wharton’s contract and by the club’s desire to retain a key young midfielder unless an exceptional offer arrives.

Erling Haaland has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for September 2025 after a run of strong performances for Manchester City. The striker collected the prize as City went through an unbeaten September and secured important wins for their supporters.

“I’m really happy to win this award for a fourth time,” Haaland told club media . “It always means a lot, so thank you to everyone who voted for me. I also want to thank my teammates, the coaches and all the staff—we do everything together.

“September was an important month for us as a team. We played some really good football, stayed unbeaten, and got important wins for our fans. I’m happy I could help the team with goals and performances.

“Now we just keep going—keep working hard every day, because there’s a tough schedule after the international break. Hopefully we can keep the same level and win even more games.”

On the managerial side, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was awarded Manager of the Month after an impressive September at the helm of the Eagles. Palace finished the month as the Premier League’s only undefeated team, following a draw with Sunderland with big wins over West Ham United and reigning champions Liverpool. Glasner’s work with the FA Cup and Community Shield winners was singled out as Palace reached new heights in the early season.

The outcome marks Crystal Palace’s first Manager of the Month success since April 2014, when Tony Pulis collected the trophy. The monthly honours list also records past winners for context: Jack Grealish (Everton) was cited for August, as was Arne Slot (Liverpool) for the same month.

These awards underline the players and managers who have had the most influence on Premier League results in the opening stages of the 2025/26 season.

Opta’s simulation now favours Arsenal to finish the 2025/26 season top of the Premier League after Liverpool slipped in successive late moments. The champions have suffered back-to-back last-gasp defeats and lost their place at the summit following a 2–1 defeat at Chelsea.

The supercomputer projects Arsenal to end the campaign on 77.11 expected points with a 44.23 percent chance of the title. Liverpool are forecast to finish on 74.91 expected points and carry a 30.61 percent title probability. Manchester City are third in the model, on 69.75 expected points and a 14.32 percent chance of reclaiming the crown.

Arsenal hold a one-point edge in the current table and are expected to reach just over 77 points, which would be three more than they managed as runners-up last season. A 77-point championship would be the lowest tally for a Premier League winner since Manchester United with 75 points in 1996–97.

The projections also outline the battle for European places. Chelsea sit fourth in the model with 61.53 expected points and a 31.08 percent probability of a Champions League berth. Crystal Palace are close behind on 60.85 expected points and a 29.17 percent chance of reaching the top four. Newcastle (58.71 expected points, 22.13 percent), Bournemouth (57.65, 17.77 percent), Tottenham Hotspur (57.04, 17.18 percent), Aston Villa (56.09, 13.68 percent) and Brighton (55.19, 11.49 percent) are all shown competing for those additional Champions League positions.

The model notes a clear top three but anticipates a wider contest for the remaining Champions League spots. Liverpool “remained Opta’s favourites after their defeat to Crystal Palace, but Arsenal have now emerged as the supercomputer’s tip to finish top.”

Despite Crystal Palace’s defeat to Everton that ended a long unbeaten run, Opta remains positive on Palace, projecting their best Premier League points total and the prospect of continental progression next season.