Arsenal join race for teenage sensation dubbed a ‘taller Jack Wilshere’ | OneFootball

Arsenal join the race for Blackburn Rovers’ teenage sensation Adam Wharton, compared to a ‘taller Jack Wilshere’ with impressive skills.

Arsenal are reportedly among the top clubs vying for the signature of Blackburn Rovers’ teenage sensation, Adam Wharton. The 18-year-old midfielder has turned heads in his 21 senior appearances this season, leading to comparisons with a ‘taller Jack Wilshere, who can play and tackle’.

Newcastle United have been sending scouts, including Sporting Director Dan Ashworth and scout Mick Tait, to monitor Wharton’s progress at Ewood Park.

Arsenal, Leicester, Tottenham, and West Ham have also sent scouts to Blackburn fixtures, and the young talent is the name on everyone’s lips.

Despite the rising interest in Wharton, Blackburn are determined to keep the midfielder at the club until he reaches closer to 100 appearances, believing that his development will be better served by playing regular football with them.

However, this has not deterred the likes of Arsenal and other Premier League clubs from keeping tabs on the talented player.

In addition to Wharton, Newcastle are also said to be keeping a close eye on Blackburn defender Hayden Carter. The 23-year-old right-sided centre-back has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign following loan spells in League One. Carter signed a new four-year contract with Rovers in March and recently rescued their play-off hopes with a last-minute equaliser against high-flying Luton.

Blackburn, currently sitting ninth in the Championship, face a crucial clash against play-off chasing rivals Millwall on the last day of the season. A win at The Den could see them leapfrog their opponents and secure a spot in the play-offs.

As the transfer season approaches, Arsenal’s interest in Adam Wharton signals their intent to bolster their squad with young, promising talent. With competition from other Premier League clubs, it remains to be seen where the highly-rated midfielder will end up.

Adam Wharton is an 18-year-old English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Blackburn Rovers.

Born on June 2, 2004, in Blackburn, England, Wharton signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2022. This two-and-a-half-year deal includes an option through to 2025.

Wharton made his professional debut on August 10, 2022, in a 4-0 EFL Cup first-round victory against Hartlepool United at Ewood Park.

He made his league debut on August 27, 2022, coming off the bench against Stoke City.

Wharton scored his first goal for the club during a victory over Birmingham City on October 22, 2022.

In September 2022, Wharton, along with his Blackburn teammate Ashley Phillips, was called up to the England U19 squad, making his debut in a 2-0 win against Montenegro U19.

Adam Wharton is the younger brother of Scott Wharton, who is also a professional footballer.

Wharton has made 16 league appearances, scoring one goal, with one assist, and played in four League Cup matches for Blackburn Rovers.

Adam Wharton is currently valued at around £2.18m/€2.5m.

Wharton in his own words

Wharton, a product of the Blackburn Rovers Academy, has caught the eye with his “languid playing style” and excellent ball-handling skills.

Wharton believes in playing his own game, even when facing tougher competition. He explained in April, “Your levels naturally go up, and I think you’ve got to play your own game. If you try and change it too much then it might get into your head and make mistakes.”

Blackburn Rovers’ head coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, has been instrumental in Wharton’s growth as a player. Wharton said, “I’m a completely different player from what I was at the start of the season. That’s down to the things I’ve been working on with the gaffer and the staff in training all season.”

Wharton, a lifelong Rovers fan, is eager to contribute to the team’s success. He is confident in his abilities and is committed to working hard in training to translate that confidence onto the pitch. He said, “It’s about getting your chance, doing the best you can every day in training and you’ll get better as a player and more chance of being in the team.”

After recovering from an ankle injury in early 2023, Wharton has played in a number of Under-21 games and internal matches, which he believes have been crucial for his development.

He concluded, “It’s about trying to do as much in those games and throughout the week to get in [Tomasson’s] mind and his thoughts.”