Adam Wharton has emerged at Crystal Palace as a left-footed midfield presence who could command significant interest next summer. Palace paid around £20 million ($26.6 million) for the 21-year-old, and his ball-carrying and passing profile make him a natural target for clubs seeking a deep-lying connector. He has been described as a “continental” midfielder by some and Gen Z’s answer to Michael Carrick.

Tottenham Hotspur — Likelihood rating: 4/10
Spurs were linked faintly last summer and appear to have watched Wharton during his Blackburn days. Whether Thomas Frank’s side push for him will depend on their fortunes in Frank’s first season in charge. Supporters are crying out for his kind of passing ability, but Palace’s asking price and competition make Spurs outsiders.

Manchester City — Likelihood rating: 6/10
Rodri’s fitness issues after his ACL tear in September 2024 have opened the door to long-term planning. Nico González and Mateo Kovačić provide depth, but uncertainty over Rodri’s return and Kovačić’s contract situation leave room for reinforcement. Pep Guardiola called Wharton an “excellent holding midfielder” before the 2025 FA Cup final, and the profile fits the kind of Spanish controller City might target.

Chelsea — Likelihood rating: 6.5/10
Chelsea’s recruitment appetite is well documented and Wharton has reportedly been added to the club’s “transfer shortlist” for 2026. With Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Roméo Lavia in the squad, Wharton would be a complementary option who can resist pressure and play incisive passes from the pivot.

Real Madrid — Likelihood rating: 7/10
Madrid are expected to rebuild their midfield after consecutive departures of elite midfielders. Wharton is perhaps too direct to be a regista, but his technical gifts could suit Spain. The suggestion that he could make that step follows examples like Michael Olise’s move from Palace.

Manchester United — Likelihood rating: 8/10
United demonstrated their pull in the summer and are reportedly considering Wharton alongside Carlos Baleba. His front-foot defending and adaptability to a 3-4-2-1 at Palace suggest he would fit Ruben Amorim’s midfield plans.

Bayern Munich have acknowledged active interest in the centre-back market after their director of sports held discussions with the agent of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi. The meeting in Munich has been reported as an initial contact as Bayern weigh options to reinforce their defence.

Max Eberl was asked about the contact in a recent interview with DAZN. He did not name Guéhi directly but made clear Bayern are looking for a new central defender. “It’s absolutely clear that we as Bayern Munich are exploring the market,” he explained.

Eberl stressed that the club’s immediate priority remains securing the future of Dayot Upamecano. “Our clear goal is to extend [Dayot Upamecano]’s contract. That’s our ultimate goal. If that doesn’t work out, we have to be prepared. We would be foolish not to. That’s the reason.

“I’ve not confirmed anything, but we are active in the market.”

Both Guéhi and Upamecano are reported to be in the final year of their contracts, a situation that increases the likelihood of movement when the window opens. Bayern’s search for reinforcements is also tied to long-running speculation around Kim Min-jae’s future; if he were to leave, the club would face an immediate need for another centre back.

Liverpool and Real Madrid are mentioned among admirers of Upamecano in the current reports, while Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté is noted as another defender whose expiring contract places him in the same group of players attracting attention. Konaté’s past team connection with Upamecano at RB Leipzig is highlighted as context for the overlapping interest.

For now, Bayern present a cautious public line: prioritise a contract extension for an existing player while keeping the market under review. Crystal Palace, and the other clubs linked to those defenders, will be watching how negotiations and potential exits shape the coming transfer window.

Eberechi Eze produced the decisive moment that extended Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to four points. His 39th-minute finish, his first for Arsenal in the competition, arrived from a set-piece that opponents will use to tease the club as “Set-Piece FC.” Arsenal supporters, unconcerned by the label, celebrated a single goal and three points that matter more than style.

The goal arrived as Declan Rice curled a free-kick toward Gabriel at the far post. Yeremy Pino had conceded the set-piece after a naïve moment on the right. Adam Wharton was nominally charged with tracking Eze, who began ten yards out and then slipped into the space in front of the penalty spot. Under the watchful eye of the Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel, Eze leapt, twisted his body and executed a scissors-like connection that sent the ball beyond Dean Henderson. The finish required athleticism and technique, qualities Arsenal’s recruitment paid for when they signed him for £65 million ($86.6 million) and handed him the No. 10 shirt.

Eze, 27, had previously opened the scoring for Palace in the corresponding fixture last season, and Arsenal’s move to buy him followed evidence of the damage he could do. He had represented Palace 169 times, scored 40 goals, helped them win the FA Cup, and aided their qualification for Europe. Palace earned a reported £40 million profit on him over five years.

The afternoon contained nervy moments. Viktor Gyökeres almost sought a late goal in injury time rather than run down the clock by the corner flag, prompting anxious reactions inside the Emirates. Around 3,000 Palace supporters applauded Eze when his name appeared in the lineups, a reminder of the “love” he will have for the people at Palace “forever.” Arsenal fans, however, were primarily counting points — three more toward a title they have not won in 21 years.