Crystal Palace are now plotting a move for a “freak of nature” midfielder, who could be brought in as a replacement for Adam Wharton.
Palace eyeing new midfielder with Wharton attracting interest
With Marc Guehi seemingly poised to follow Eberechi Eze out the door in the summer, Palace fans will undoubtedly be concerned by the news that another key player, Adam Wharton, is also attracting attention, with Manchester United and Real Madrid keen.
The Eagles have done a remarkable job building a competitive squad over the past few years, which resulted in the recent FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, and much of their success can be put down to recruiting from the Championship.
The likes of Wharton, Eze and Michael Olise all arrived at Selhurst Park from second-tier clubs, with the latter two going on to be sold for huge fees, and if the English midfielder follows a similar path, Oliver Glasner’s side have a replacement in mind.
That is according to a report from BILD (via Sports View), which states Crystal Palace are now plotting a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham, who arrived at the Bundesliga club for a package worth £31m in the summer.
Having caught the eye in the Championship, Bellingham earned a big move to a Champions League club, but he has since fallen out of favour, with Palace among the clubs that could swoop in and sign the 20-year-old.
However, there may be competition for the potential Wharton replacement, as Manchester United are also keen.
"Freak of nature" Bellingham could excel at Selhurst Park
Palace’s model of signing ex-Championship stars has paid dividends in the past, and the Dortmund ace clearly has the talent to be a success at Selhurst Park, given the level of some of his performances over the past year.
Indeed, the youngster has proven himself as a well-rounded midfielder, showcasing his defensive attributes, aerial prowess, and dribbling ability on a regular basis.
Statistic
Average per 90
Clearances
2.40 (83rd percentile)
Aerials won
1.74 (87th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.07 (89th percentile)
Former teammate Dan Neil has also praised the ex-Sunderland man in the past, describing him as a “freak of nature physically”, before going on to add: “Technically, he is a top, top, player as well. He has come here to play in front of 40,000 every week and that is something he is going to have to take on mentally, because we can all see how good a player he is technically, physically, and tactically.
While the move to Dortmund hasn’t worked out thus far, Bellingham is clearly a very talented young player, so Palace should undoubtedly make a move if he becomes available.