At a Glance:
- Arsenal have been linked with Adam Wharton over the last 12 months.
- The Gunners are looking to add a young midfielder to their ranks, and Wharton is an option they could explore.
- Wharton has revealed that he is in regular contact with an Arsenal player.
Arsenal have been loosely linked with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton over the last 12 months, and the midfielder has now revealed that he already has a somewhat close relationship with a member of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The Gunners will be in the market for a central midfielder in the summer, as they look to provide Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi with increased cover and competition. Sandro Tonali has been mooted as a target for Arteta, while more recent reports have hinted that the North Londoners are monitoring Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Senny Mayulu’s situation.
Meanwhile, Wharton remains an option Arteta and Andrea Berta could look to explore. Four Arsenal players have been included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this international break, alongside Wharton, and these individuals will now have a 10-day window to tempt Palace’s talisman to move to the Emirates.
Adam Wharton reveals he’s in regular contact with Arsenal star
Wharton is competing with Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson to partner Arsenal’s Rice in the middle of the park for England at the World Cup this summer. If the former wins this battle, this could mark the beginning of a fruitful midfield partnership between the two.
In fact, it appears Wharton and Rice have a pre-existing relationship off the pitch. Speaking on the talkSPORT Daily podcast, the 22-year-old revealed that he and the Gunners’ de facto captain keep in regular contact behind the scenes.
“I’ve spoken to Declan quite a few times since, and he’s always really positive,” Wharton said.
“It’s not necessarily just about him giving me advice; it’s more just about speaking about football. We enjoy speaking about football, and obviously, the more you speak with other players, you can learn from them and take little bits on how they see the game.
“So yeah, I think it’s always good to speak to the other players, not only Declan, but all the other experienced players. Because everyone sees the game differently.”
Should Arsenal make a move for Adam Wharton in the summer?
Rice’s personable character means Arsenal would certainly have a chance of landing Wharton if they were to make a move for him. That said, the competition for the player’s signature will be significant, and this will likely drive the price up to absurd levels.
Palace have already quoted around £100 million for their prized possession, and if multiple teams enter the race, a bidding war could ensue. Whether Arsenal should invest such a significant sum of money on a player in a position where they already have Zubimendi is an open question.
| Statistical Comparison 2025/26 (League Only) | ||
| Stat | Rice | Wharton |
| Appearances | 30 | 27 |
| Pass Accuracy | 87.8% | 79.1% |
| Touches per 90 | 81.02 | 59.4 |
| Duels Won per 90 | 4.21 | 4.93 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.02 | 1.32 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 1.04 | 0.95 |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.98 | 2.48 |
There’s no doubt that the Gunners need to add another option to their midfield cohort, although they shouldn’t pour all their resources into this position. Strengthening the attack is the more pressing concern, so they should arguably target a cheaper option in the middle of the park.
Wharton is undoubtedly an excellent player who would add ball progression to Arsenal’s midfield, but he may ultimately prove to be too expensive.
