Adam Wharton is edging closer to joining Crystal Palace with Blackburn Rovers finalising a deal to sell their star midfielder.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands that the midfielder is now likely to leave his boyhood club and complete a move to the Premier League before the January transfer deadline.
Wharton was an unused substitute against Wrexham AFC on Monday night. Jon Dahl Tomasson decided to take the midfielder out of the firing line with speculation about his future.
The head coach has always acknowledged that the teenager could move on and will do so with the club’s blessing if a fee is agreed. Tomasson believes Wharton could one day play for England and whilst he’d prefer Rovers to sell in the summer, he expects the midfielder to leave the club sooner rather than later.
It’s understood Palace are unlikely to agree to any loan deal as part of the agreement. If Wharton does move, he won’t return to Ewood Park for the remainder of the season and will go straight into their Premier League squad.
Rovers will now look to invest some of that money to strengthen Tomasson’s squad in the next 72 hours. A forward and an experienced centre-back are top of their priority list but the club will not go on a wild spending spree in the last knockings of the window.
Instead, the cash injection means Rovers can shop higher up on their priority list. It certainly opens the market up for the club and supporters can expect new faces to arrive at Ewood Park.
Nat Phillips was a main target but he has chosen to join Cardiff City ahead of a move to Ewood Park. Rovers have other defensive targets and Wharton’s impending sale means they can cash their net wider.
