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Interest is heating up as Liverpool join Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in pursuit of arguably the most coveted young midfielder anywhere in the Premier League.

Now, when most managers are asked to comment on the talents of a rival footballer linked with a summer switch to their club, they often tend to bat away the question with a curt ‘no comment’.

But not Pep Guardiola.

The Manchester City boss can never resist the temptation to wax lyrical about a player he admires from afar.

And, as the soon-to-be dethroned Premier League champions prepare to host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, the mention of Adam Wharton had Guardiola singing the praises of the man who could yet break Declan Rice’s record and become the most expensive English footballer in history.

TBR Football reported a fortnight ago that Crystal Palace feel Wharton is a £100 million man in the making.

And while the expectation is that Wharton will stay for another season at Crystal Palace, bids in the region of the fee Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice could yet make the former Blackburn Rovers starlet one of the stories of the summer.

Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

Guardiola, of course, was never going to talk openly about Man City’s interest.

While Alexis Mac Allister has thrived at the base of Arne Slot’s midfield, the potential departure of a 32-year-old Wataru Endo does threaten to leave the runaway leaders somewhat light in what has become something of a problem position.

“[Wharton is] an excellent holding midfielder,” Guardiola says.

A really good player.”

In a week in which Ryan Gravenberch’s agent talked up a switch to Real Madrid – he would love to see the Dutchman at the Santiago Bernabeu – questions were also asked about the aforementioned Mac Allister.

Fortunately, while Crystal Palace are determined to hang onto Wharton, Liverpool are under no pressure to let either Gravenberch or Mac Allister go with the duo tied down to long-term contracts.

Mac Allister has been mentioned in conjunction with Real Madrid too.

The Argentine’s father, however, insists that the £35 million signing from Brighton will remain a Liverpool player for a long time to come yet.

“For now, I don’t think so,” Carlos Mac Allister said when asked if Alexis could depart in the near future.
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