West Ham may be able to take advantage of growing interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton — if the latest reports are anything to go by.
The Hammers travel to Selhurst Park tomorrow, with Wharton a doubt after picking up an injury against Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final.
Wharton rise attracting major interest
The £20m signing from Blackburn Rovers has been a revelation for Palace, and it’s no surprise the bigger clubs are starting to circle.
Liverpool and Manchester United are both believed to be keeping tabs, with Wharton now featuring on a growing list of in-demand midfielders.
Fernandes also in the mix
That list, of course, includes West Ham’s own Mateus Fernandes.
Alongside them are Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Nottingham Forest’s England international Elliott Anderson — not bad company to be in, but I’d rather Fernandes wasn’t being linked at all.
Wharton moving to the front of the queue?
But according to multiple reports today, Wharton may have jumped to the front of that queue.
And if that’s the case, it could have a knock-on effect to benefit the Hammers.
Why it might suit West Ham
If the big hitters focus their attention — and their budgets — on Wharton, it could limit thee focus on Fernandes.
Of course, all of this comes with a big caveat.
Survival still the key factor
As a club source told Claret & Hugh earlier this week: “If we go down they might all want to leave.”
So before worrying about transfer domino effects, West Ham still have work to do on the pitch starting tomooorw in South London.