Manchester City continue to monitor a promising young midfielder as they seek to fill hole in their squad | OneFootball

You only had to look at one substitution that Pep Guardiola made during his team’s 1-nil loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday to see what holes there are in the current Manchester City squad. Mateo Kovacic replaced Nico in the number six role, and City’s performance suffered during the game’s closing stages. Heading into the January transfer window another quality option at that position is a must for Pep Guardiola’s squad. Rodri should be back from injury in time for next season. But there is merit to City adding another player who can play the role to lessen the burden on Rodri as he comes back from the ACL injury he sustained in September.

One player who could play that role for Manchester City is Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. Wharton is one of the top young English midfielders in the Premier League. Although he has had an injury-interrupted season for Crystal Palace, his talent and potential are clear to see. Now a new report indicates that Manchester City had scouts present at Crystal Palace’s most recent match. It appears that City maintain an interest in signing Wharton. It’s a move that makes sense based on Wharton’s talent and what Manchester City need in their midfield.

Jamie Brown has relayed a report from Graeme Bailey for TBR Football that Manchester City had scouts present at Crystal Palace’s 1-nil win over Ipswich Town on Saturday. Furthermore, the TBR Football report indicates that Adam Wharton was the focus of Manchester City’s scout’s attention. James Brown further reports that Crystal Palace don’t want to lose Adam Wharton in the summer. Lastly, Brown adds that Palace are contemplating offering Wharton a substantial contract extension to retain Wharton’s services for next season.

A move for Adam Wharton makes sense from a Manchester City point of view as they could add a top young player and rectify a hole in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

As mentioned above, Manchester City does lack options in the number six position. The arrival of Nico in January from FC Porto in the January transfer window has helped in this regard. But you do feel that City do need another player for the role to complete Pep Guardiola’s squad. Rodri is due back from injury but he will need time to regain fitness and form. So a move for a player like Adam Wharton does make sense from a City point of view.

Adding a player like Adam Wharton would alleviate the pressure on Rodri to return to his best. That point is clear to see. But Wharton is a quality player in his own right with his best football ahead of him. He has shown at Blackburn Rovers and Crystal Palace just how good a player he is and can potentially be. With his technical and tactical ability, he’d perfectly complement City’s current midfield. Signing Wharton or a player like him would lessen the need of playing Pep Guardiola playing either Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic or Ilkay Gundogan as a number six or in a role they aren’t suited. There’s merit to Manchester City signing another holding midfielder and one with the quality and potential of Adam Wharton would immensely improve Pep Guardiola’s squad.

It appears that Manchester City are continuing to monitor the progress of Adam Wharton based on the most recent TBR Football report. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them make a move for the impressive young midfielder in the summer as Wharton ticks the required boxes of a potential Manchester City signing.