Despite an active summer transfer window that saw six new arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid remain in the market for a specialized midfielder to anchor their engine room. The club’s search for a defensive-minded presence has become more urgent following their failure to secure a deal for Manchester City’s Rodri.
While Martin Zubimendi has long been identified as a primary target, his potential availability remains uncertain, particularly following Arsenal’s acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes. Consequently, Real Madrid have turned their attention toward the Premier League, where Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has emerged as a preferred solution.
According to reports from Miguel Serrano, the Spanish giants view Wharton as an ideal candidate to stabilize their midfield. The Crystal Palace star has been linked with a move to Madrid for some time, though previous focus on other transfer targets prevented the club from formalizing their interest.
Coach Jose Mourinho is reportedly a significant admirer of the young Englishman. Wharton is highly regarded for his composure and his ability to circulate possession effectively, with many observers noting that his playing style draws strong comparisons to former Madrid legend Toni Kroos. The club believes his profile is highly compatible with the current squad’s core stars.
However, securing Wharton’s services will likely prove difficult. The midfielder is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2029, providing Crystal Palace with significant leverage in negotiations. Reports indicate that the Eagles value the player at approximately €100 million, a figure that would make him even more expensive than Rodri.
This valuation presents a potential dilemma for Los Blancos. Real Madrid’s previous reluctance to meet Manchester City’s asking price was the primary factor in the collapse of the Rodri deal. Given that Wharton’s price tag is even higher, it remains to be seen whether the club will proceed with a formal bid.
In other transfer news, reports from ESPN suggest that Manchester United continue to monitor two Real Madrid players, with claims that a verbal agreement has been reached regarding their interest. Meanwhile, Arsenal have not ruled out the potential departure of a midfielder who has also been linked with a move to the Spanish capital.
Elsewhere in the football world, Manchester United are reportedly looking at Eduardo Camavinga as a potential solution to a surprise tactical issue. Additionally, the transfer market remains active as several high-profile players approach the end of their contracts, with speculation mounting over where these free agents will land.
In Saudi Arabia, Al-Nassr’s pursuit of the league title faced a setback following a costly error by goalkeeper Bento. The Brazilian’s mistake in the 53rd minute of the second half prevented the team from securing a win while they were leading 1-0, ultimately delaying Cristiano Ronaldo’s chance to claim his first title in the region.
The Premier League has also issued a formal statement regarding a controversial non-penalty decision involving Tottenham’s James Maddison during their recent draw against Leeds. Officials clarified why the midfielder was denied a spot-kick upon his return from injury, addressing the frustration surrounding the incident.
The upcoming football schedule features several notable fixtures, including a match between Huntsville City FC and Crown Legacy FC, as well as European encounters such as Górnik versus Ferencváros and Vaduz against Inter Turku. Other games scheduled include CSKA Sofia versus Maccabi Tel Aviv, FC St. Gallen against Sheriff, and Austria Vienna facing Beitar Jerusalem.
Further matches on the horizon include Shelbourne versus Ajax, Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi against Veres Rivne, and Hertha Wels versus Rapid Vienna II. The schedule also features Holstein Kiel against St. Pauli, Eintracht Braunschweig versus VfL Bochum, Würzburger Kickers against Wehen Wiesbaden, and SSV Ulm facing Kickers Offenbach, with St. Pölten meeting BW Linz and Atalanta taking on Athletic Bilbao later this week.
In fact, Palace value Wharton at around €100 million, which makes him significantly more expensive than Rodri, granted the Englishman is a far younger option as well.
“There has been a verbal agreement” – ESPN journalist reveals Man Utd still tracking Real Madrid duo Utd Report
“There has been a verbal agreement” – ESPN journalist reveals Man Utd still tracking Real Madrid duo
But having missed out on Rodri, the club are running out of options.
(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
In fact, the Englishman is stylistically very similar to Toni Kroos.
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Predicting which clubs the summer’s biggest free agents will sign for There are still some massive names who are set to become free agents in the summer, with some high-profile deals due to expire at the end of next month.As speculation…
Predicting which clubs the summer’s biggest free agents will sign for
Huntsville City FC Crown Legacy FC Today 05:30 Watch
Górnik Ferencváros Today 22:30 Watch
Vaduz Inter Turku Today 23:00 Watch
CSKA Sofia Maccabi Tel Aviv Today 23:30 Watch
Austria Vienna Beitar Jerusalem Tomorrow 00:00 Watch
Shelbourne Ajax Tomorrow 00:15 Watch
Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi Veres Rivne Tomorrow 20:30 Watch
Hertha Wels Rapid Vienna II Tomorrow 22:00 Watch
Eintracht Braunschweig VfL Bochum Tomorrow 22:00 Watch
