Crystal Palace launch Adam Wharton bid as Eagles push for double signing

Crystal Palace have had an £18.5million bid rejected for Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton.

Blackburn are seeking at least £20m for the 19-year-old, who has impressed in the Championship. They also want to keep him at Ewood Park on loan for the rest of the season.

Wharton is an England Under-20 international and only signed a four-and-a-half year contract a month ago, so Blackburn are in a strong negotiating position.

But Palace are pushing to bring in Wharton this month, with the Eagles just five points above the Premier League relegation zone following a run of just one win in 10 games.

Palace want to sign a midfielder after losing Cheick Doucoure to a serious Achilles injury.

Doucoure is expected to miss the rest of the season and Palace have targeted Wharton after missing out on Kalvin Phillips, who is joining West Ham.

Palace have scouted Wharton closely this season. He has played 26 times in the Championship and established himself as a key player at Blackburn under Jon Dahl Tomasson.

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The Eagles also want Genk right-back Daniel Munoz, who is trying to force through a move to Selhurst Park by going on strike and missing training.

The 27-year-old is valued at £8.6m by Genk and could be a long-term solution in the right-back position, where Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne are both out of contract in the summer.

Palace are also exploring the striker market, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future still uncertain despite his recent run of matches following an injury to Odsonne Edouard.