Chelsea need to bolster the squad in multiple areas during the summer. Midfield is a high priority and even more so if Enzo Fernandez leaves.
Fernandez has flirted with the possibility of joining Real Madrid for several months. Comments made earlier in the year saw former head coach Liam Rosenior hand the Argentine a two-game ban.
Consequently, with the uncertainty surrounding Fernandez, as well as the side's need to add experience and quality, some big names are linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, including Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.
Crystal Palace set eye-watering Adam Wharton price tag
Wharton has enjoyed an excellent breakthrough during his time at the Eagles.
Although the 22-year-old was not included in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup, there is no doubting he's been one of the Premier League's best central midfielders.
Off the back of winning the UEFA Conference League, Wharton has unsurprisingly emerged as a target for the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.
However, according to journalist Alan Nixon, (via the Standard), any deal to sign Wharton would see him become one of the country's most expensive players.
Palace have set Declan Rice's £100 million move to Arsenal and Elliot Anderson's proposed switch to Manchester City — for the same kind of fee — as the benchmark for their number 20.
Eagles in full control over Wharton's future
Wharton has three years left on his contract at Selhurst Park and there are rumours Palace want to offer him a bumper extension.
It remains unknown how the 22-year-old feels about staying in south London but with Palace holding all the cards, it will come down to whether or not a club feels the midfielder is worth paying £100 million for.
From Chelsea's perspective, Nixon claims the Blues have been 'put off' by Steve Parish's demands suggesting a deal this summer could be off the table.
After missing out on qualifying for European football next season, BlueCo must find a way to balance the books, and spending a nine-figure sum on one player is probably not going to happen, especially when so many other positions need new additions.
During his first two-and-a-half years at Selhurst Park, Wharton has directly contributed to 14 goals in 96 matches in all competitions. In addition to last season's UEFA Conference League, he was part of the Eagles' side that lifted the 2024-25 FA Cup and the 2025-26 Community Shield.
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