This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.
Tottenham have been linked with an ambitious move for Adam Wharton this summer.
Wharton has been on the club’s radar since he climbed through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers.
However, Spurs placed greater emphasis on Ashley Phillips, who was signed from Rovers in 2022. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace snapped up Wharton for an initial fee of £18million.
But the North London club could return to the charge this summer as they weigh up a move for the midfielder.
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Tottenham to be put off by £100m Wharton fee
Reports have indicated that Palace are hoping to obtain £100m for Wharton if he is sold this summer.
The Englishman has become a key player at Selhurst Park in recent years, and the Eagles want their money’s worth.
While Tottenham like the player, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that they are not prepared to pay the required fee.
“I just can’t see Crystal Palace selling everybody in one summer,” Wenham said.
“I’m sure they want to keep Wharton, so quite rightly, they’re within their right to turn around and ask for £100m. It’s up to the club that has the player. They’ve got him on a nice long contract, took a chance on him and gave him Premier League football. If they say he’s £100m, that’s the price.
“I don’t see Tottenham spending £100m on Wharton this summer. They might like him, they might admire him. I imagine that’s all true because he’s a very good player, but I just don’t see Tottenham paying the money that will be required to get him out of Palace this summer.”
Tottenham do not need Wharton this summer
A fee of £100m for any player seems excessive, but to drop a sum on one a team does not need is bad business.
It is undeniable that Wharton would improve Thomas Frank’s squad. He is proficient in both attack and defence and can control games from the midfield.
However, with Morgan Gibbs-White still a target, and several creative midfielders in the squad, Wharton would be a luxury buy.
Indeed, Frank will likely line up with either Mohammed Kudus or Gibbs-White alongside James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr or Dejan Kulusevski in the midfield. This would see Rodrigo Bentancur slip into a defensive midfield role.
As a result, the Dane seems to have one too many midfielders at his disposal, and the addition of Wharton could be difficult to justify for £100m