The Crystal Palace star making a late push for England’s Euro 2024 squad

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Recent seasons have seen Alex Scott, Keane Lewis-Potter, Harry Souttar, and Joao Pedro move from the Championship to the Premier League. Unfortunately, they have not been able to replicate the performances that led Bournemouth, Brentford, Leicester, and Brighton to invest in them.

Pep Guardiola referred to Scott as an outstanding player following the FA Cup fixture between Bristol City and Manchester City. Lewis-Potter was exceptional in his last term with Hull City, where he managed to net 13 goals. Souttar was one of Australia's top players in the recent Qatar World Cup, but he made a £15m transfer from Stoke to Leicester. In addition, Brighton acquired Pedro for a record transfer fee.

Crystal Palace's most recent Championship signing Adam Wharton has had a much stronger start in the Premier League compared to others. He's been able to settle in quickly after leaving Blackburn, and he really stood out as one of the top performers for Oliver Glasner's team towards the end of the season.

Wharton has recently earned a spot on England's preliminary team for Euro 2024, demonstrating how highly the England manager regards his development.

He became popular after his outstanding performance in the Eagles' game against Manchester United, where they won 4-0. He faced off against Kobbie Mainoo, but his exceptional abilities in midfield allowed players like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to shine. His precise and impressive passes towards the front also added to the team's success.

Before facing United, Palace triumphed in three consecutive games for the first time since their Austrian coach took charge. One of these victories was against title-challenging Liverpool in Anfield, where Wharton presented himself. The young midfielder, despite being only 20, played exceptionally well, demonstrating maturity beyond his years. It is worth noting that just four months prior, Wharton played in a 4-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town. However, he adapted quickly and is a fast learner.

During the 1-0 victory, Wharton managed the high level of energy and fierceness on the field. This match was the most significant one he has ever played, but he remained calm while in possession of the ball. He initiated the play that led to Eze scoring the goal.

After their victory, they continued their impressive performance against West Ham and Newcastle. Wharton dominated the midfield during these matches, even outplaying the noteworthy players Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, who are rumored to be signing with Manchester City in the near future. Wharton's contribution was vital in helping his team maintain a seven-game unbeaten streak to wrap up the season.

While his impressive start can mostly be attributed to his sharpness on the field, he also displayed shrewdness by opting for Crystal Palace as his new career venture. It has been reported that even teams like Everton, Newcastle United, and Jurgen Klopp's side were keen on having him join their ranks.

Roy Hodgson found Wharton to be an important addition to the team after Cheick Doucoure's injury in November left Palace short-handed and in need of a replacement. Had Wharton joined Eddie Howe's team, he would have faced stiff competition from Guimaraes for a starting position. Amadou Onana is considered a star player for Everton and the expectations and pressure at Liverpool can be challenging for young players to adapt to.

To be honest, there are only a few clubs that are as good as Palace for a young and promising Championship player who wants to make a move to the Premier League. Palace's roster includes Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, who both shone after leaving Queens Park Rangers and Reading. They are now the team's most outstanding players.

Although Wharton has started most games following his £22.5m transfer, he has not yet reached the level of his two forwards. On his debut appearance against Brighton, he came on 28 minutes into the match, replacing Marc Guehi. Unfortunately, it was a challenging start as his team lost 4-1 and he was partially responsible for Brighton's third goal.

He made an infrequent error in his early career in the professional league, but he has revealed resilience by not only getting over it but dominating a midfield position in the Premier League.

During this summer's Euros, Uefa has decided to expand the squad size to 26 players. This change gives Gareth Southgate the opportunity to add players who have distinctive abilities to the team. Despite having many forward options, the midfield base is not as strong in comparison for England.

Southgate is dependent on Declan Rice to play as the defensive midfielder for his team. However, there is an insufficiency of players in that position. Bellingham, Gallagher, Henderson, and Alexander-Arnold are more suited to play with the Arsenal midfield instead of taking Rice's position.

Kalvin Phillips had a disappointing loan period at West Ham, which lessens his chance of being considered for England's team. While Mainoo and Wharton have shown promise since being given a chance, they still have yet to prove themselves.

Southgate's decision to include 20-year-old Wharton on the team was unexpected. It wouldn't be surprising if he doesn't make the final cut, however, he has fulfilled a request from Palace supporters for a new player to be added to the team.

A couple of weeks ago, Wharton mentioned that he wasn't giving much thought to making it to Southgate's squad in Germany. According to him, it would be a pleasant surprise if he gets selected.

During the month of January, supporters who were travelling displayed a banner with the words "Potential being not utilized on the pitch and off, decision-making is weak, and we are going in a backwards direction" in a match where their team lost to Arsenal with a 5-0 score.

The aforementioned note surfaced nine days prior to Palace's official announcement of Wharton's leadership position in midfield. Since then, Wharton has demonstrated his exceptional abilities, confirming Palace's wise selection. Southgate's clear admiration for Wharton further reinforces this decision.