AliousReal Madrid’s Interest in Adam Wharton Could Spark Crystal Palace Moves for Sunderland Duo**
**Real Madrid** are reportedly keeping close tabs on **Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton**, with a potential summer move for the England international possibly setting off a chain reaction that could impact **Sunderland**.
Real Madrid Scouting Wharton for Big-Money Move**
The **Spanish giants** have sent scouts to assess Wharton following his return from injury, with **chief scout Juni Calafat** said to be a firm admirer of the **21-year-old midfielder**. According to the **Daily Mail**, Wharton is expected to be called up by **Thomas Tuchel’s England squad**, further increasing his profile.
Reports suggest **Real Madrid could table a bid of around £70 million**, but they are not the only club interested—**Manchester City and Liverpool** are also closely monitoring the talented youngster. If a deal materializes, **Crystal Palace would suddenly have significant funds to reinvest**, creating ripple effects in the transfer market.
Crystal Palace Eye Sunderland’s Bellingham and Rigg as Potential Replacements**
With Wharton’s possible departure leaving a gap in midfield, **Crystal Palace are already planning ahead**. **Football Insider** claims that **Sunderland starlets Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg** are among their top transfer targets, alongside **Southampton’s Tyler Dibling**.
Palace have reportedly **drawn up a shortlist** of young talents from the Championship and Premier League, which could fast-track their pursuit of Bellingham and Rigg should Wharton leave.
Palace’s Transfer Strategy Aligns with Past Successes**
**Former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers scout Mick Brown** weighed in on Palace’s approach, highlighting their history of **identifying and developing young talents**.
*”Palace have a strong track record of scouting players from the lower leagues and nurturing them into top-level performers,”* Brown said. *”They’ve done it before with players like [Eberechi] Eze, [Marc] Guehi, and [Michael] Olise. It’s a well-proven method that has paid off, and they’ll continue to look at players like Bellingham, Rigg, and Dibling this summer.”*
Bellingham and Rigg Recognized for Their Progress**
Both **Bellingham and Rigg** have already gained recognition for their performances this season, having recently been jointly awarded **Young Player of the Year** at the **North East Football Writers Association ceremony**.
Speaking about the achievement, **Bellingham praised Sunderland’s commitment to developing young players**, stating:
*”It’s a testament to the club that two players have won this award. Sunderland is a great place for young talents to grow, gain experience, and develop into top players.”*
With **Crystal Palace looking to continue their recruitment strategy**, **Wharton’s potential sale could accelerate their move for Sunderland’s rising stars**, setting up an intriguing transfer window.
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