Real Madrid are lacking a brain in midfield following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, and Adam Wharton is seen as the most promising candidate to fill that void.
There’s still one piece missing from the Xabi Alonso puzzle at Real Madrid : a true organizing midfielder.
Toni Kroos has retired, Luka Modric has left, and the Bernabéu still lacks a midfielder capable of controlling the pace, distributing the ball, and breaking up a tight Osasuna-style defense. In this context, Adam Wharton, the 21-year-old Crystal Palace prospect, appears to be the ideal solution.
Wharton is no stranger to English fans. Once nicknamed the “Pirlo of Blackburn ,” he quickly rose to fame after signing for Palace last year for just €21 million. In just one season, Wharton has demonstrated exceptional qualities, with a calm and intelligent game, precise passing, and a magical left foot.
He led Palace to the FA Cup and Community Shield, impressing Pep Guardiola so much that he said: “An exceptional midfielder, who made an immediate impact from the Championship to the Premier League.”
Real Madrid’s problem lies in… money. Palace has tied Wharton down until 2029 and will only accept €80 million or more. Meanwhile, Real Madrid just spent €178 million in the 2025 summer transfer window.
It’s clear that without a multi-million-dollar transfer fee, like the one Manchester City is seeking for Rodrygo, Wharton’s signing is unlikely to happen this summer. In other words, the Wharton-Rodrygo deal is like two roads coming together: one going, one going.
The question is: does Real Madrid really need Wharton enough to sell him? The answer is probably yes. Xabi Alonso wants a playmaker, and if he experiments with Arda Güler in a deeper position, it’s only a temporary solution.
Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouameni are good, but they’re more muscular and agile; none of them are particularly intelligent. Wharton brings what Real Madrid needs: the ability to control the pace, vision, and calm amidst the chaos.
Of course, Real Madrid isn’t the only one interested in Wharton . Liverpool, Manchester City, and especially Manchester United all consider him their top target. The Red Devils, after letting Carlos Baleba go for a whopping €120 million, are even more determined to invest heavily in Wharton. Moreover, Palace just earned €80 million from Eberechi Eze’s transfer to Arsenal , so they have no reason to sell him immediately.
It’s a slow and steady move, in the style of Real Madrid. There’s no rush, but if the opportunity presents itself, especially after September 1, the Whites will seize it. Because Wharton isn’t just a promising midfielder. At 21, he’s proven to possess skills and a thinking ability far superior to many of his teammates.
He’s the kind of player Real Madrid has long missed, ever since Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric were in their prime. And who knows, Adam Wharton could very well be the “Kroos-Modric successor” Real Madrid has been waiting for.
