Wayne Rooney hails ‘outstanding’ Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool transfer target
Ex-England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney (Picture: Getty) Wayne Rooney heaped praise on Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool transfer target Adam Wharton after he helped Crystal Palace reach the FA Cup final. Wharton produced an impressive performance at Wembley on Saturday as Palace thumped Villa 3-0 to advance to the final. The 21-year-old has emerged as a target for some of the biggest teams in the Premier League, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Rooney’s beloved United. Wharton’s form last season earned him a place in England’s squad for Euro 2024 but he was then absent for the first few months of this campaign due to injury. The ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder has looked back to his best in recent weeks, however, and looks set to be the subject of much transfer interest this summer. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Rooney singled Wharton out for praise after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Aston Villa, describing him as the ‘best player on the pitch’. ‘Attacking players get a lot of the credit, but Adam Wharton was outstanding,’ he said on BBC One. Adam Wharton, right, during the FA Cup semi-final (Picture: Getty) ‘His commitment and winning the ball back – I thought he was the best player on the pitch.’ Discussing Palace’s brilliant FA Cup run, Rooney added: ‘I think Palace were by far the better team but the atmosphere in the air is incredible. ‘They fully deserve to go to the final. Hopefully they can go on and win it. ‘The FA Cup final is a massive thing. It is massive for everyone. It is a great occasion and the Palace fans have had a great day out and they get to do it again.’ Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool target Adam Wharton (Picture: Getty) Crystal Palace reportedly value Wharton at around £70m amid interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. Mikel Arteta is keen to bring a least one more midfielder to the Emirates Stadium this summer and Arsenal are believed to be leading the race to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. But further midfield reinforcements may be needed, especially as Thomas Partey has been linked with a return to Spain and Jorginho looks set to leave the club. Rooney’s former England teammate Owen Hargreaves recently tipped Arsenal to launch a move for Wharton, who made his England debut shortly before last summer’s Euros. Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his Arsenal squad this summer (Picture: Getty) ‘Someone I like is Adam Wharton,’ Hargreaves said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. ‘He gets in your team [Arsenal]. ‘If Mikel Arteta saw him he’d go, “that’s my guy”. Say if Thomas Partey leaves, Wharton is a player. ‘The thing with Adam that’s crazy is his vision. He’s two steps ahead. His reading of the game when you watch him… his vision and his touch is almost as good as anyone. ‘I would like him at Manchester United but I think that system is very niche and you need legs to play in that position under Ruben Amorim.’ Liverpool and Man Utd eye summer moves Liverpool have also expressed interest in Wharton and are lining up a £50m offer for the Eagles star, according to The Sun. Manchester United, meanwhile, need to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s struggling squad and have identified Wharton as a possible target. Rio Ferdinand is keen to see Wharton join his former club, even likening the midfielder to his former teammate Michael Carrick. ‘I would sign another central midfielder this summer to play alongside Manuel Ugarte,’ Ferdinand said. Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup final (Picture: Getty) ‘That player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it up the pitch. You know who I would do for? Adam Wharton. ‘I would go and get him. The reason I would take him is he can get on the ball and transfer it up the pitch, he’s got a great range of passing. ‘I think he would be a great addition to the United squad. He reminds me of Michael Carrick a bit.’ Wharton’s Crystal Palace will face Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Speaking after the semi-final win, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: ‘I thought we were excellent. All credit to the manager and the players, you can see what it means to them. ‘I thought today was a real celebration of fans. Two clubs who haven’t won a lot of honours in recent times. For us never. ‘A great occasion at Wembley and we stand at the edge of doing something we’ve never done before.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Wayne Rooney heaped praise on Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool transfer target Adam Wharton after he helped Crystal Palace reach the FA Cup final.
Wharton produced an impressive performance at Wembley on Saturday as Palace thumped Villa 3-0 to advance to the final.
The 21-year-old has emerged as a target for some of the biggest teams in the Premier League, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Rooney’s beloved United.
Wharton’s form last season earned him a place in England’s squad for Euro 2024 but he was then absent for the first few months of this campaign due to injury.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder has looked back to his best in recent weeks, however, and looks set to be the subject of much transfer interest this summer.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Rooney singled Wharton out for praise after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Aston Villa, describing him as the ‘best player on the pitch’.
‘Attacking players get a lot of the credit, but Adam Wharton was outstanding,’ he said on BBC One.
‘His commitment and winning the ball back – I thought he was the best player on the pitch.’
Discussing Palace’s brilliant FA Cup run, Rooney added: ‘I think Palace were by far the better team but the atmosphere in the air is incredible.
‘They fully deserve to go to the final. Hopefully they can go on and win it.
‘The FA Cup final is a massive thing. It is massive for everyone. It is a great occasion and the Palace fans have had a great day out and they get to do it again.’
Crystal Palace reportedly value Wharton at around £70m amid interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bring a least one more midfielder to the Emirates Stadium this summer and Arsenal are believed to be leading the race to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
But further midfield reinforcements may be needed, especially as Thomas Partey has been linked with a return to Spain and Jorginho looks set to leave the club.
Rooney’s former England teammate Owen Hargreaves recently tipped Arsenal to launch a move for Wharton, who made his England debut shortly before last summer’s Euros.
‘Someone I like is Adam Wharton,’ Hargreaves said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. ‘He gets in your team [Arsenal].
‘If Mikel Arteta saw him he’d go, “that’s my guy”. Say if Thomas Partey leaves, Wharton is a player.
‘The thing with Adam that’s crazy is his vision. He’s two steps ahead. His reading of the game when you watch him… his vision and his touch is almost as good as anyone.
‘I would like him at Manchester United but I think that system is very niche and you need legs to play in that position under Ruben Amorim.’
Liverpool and Man Utd eye summer moves
Liverpool have also expressed interest in Wharton and are lining up a £50m offer for the Eagles star, according to The Sun.
Manchester United, meanwhile, need to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s struggling squad and have identified Wharton as a possible target.
Rio Ferdinand is keen to see Wharton join his former club, even likening the midfielder to his former teammate Michael Carrick.
‘I would sign another central midfielder this summer to play alongside Manuel Ugarte,’ Ferdinand said.
‘That player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it up the pitch. You know who I would do for? Adam Wharton.
‘I would go and get him. The reason I would take him is he can get on the ball and transfer it up the pitch, he’s got a great range of passing.
‘I think he would be a great addition to the United squad. He reminds me of Michael Carrick a bit.’
Wharton’s Crystal Palace will face Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Speaking after the semi-final win, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: ‘I thought we were excellent. All credit to the manager and the players, you can see what it means to them.
‘I thought today was a real celebration of fans. Two clubs who haven’t won a lot of honours in recent times. For us never.
‘A great occasion at Wembley and we stand at the edge of doing something we’ve never done before.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
