Everton join Newcastle United and Brighton in race for Championship wonderkid

Newcastle United will reportedly face competition from Everton and two other Premier League rivals if they follow up their interest in Blackburn Rovers youngster Adam Wharton.

After breaking into the Rovers senior setup in the first month of last season, the young midfielder went on to score two goals and provide two assists in 22 appearances in all competitions as he captured the attention of several Premier League clubs. Wharton’s development also led to international recognition as he made his England Under-19s debut alongside Newcastle loan star Lewis Hall in a 2-0 win over Macedonia in September last year before going on to earn a further five caps.

Reflecting on his performances during his maiden season in the Rovers first-team, Wharton praised former Magpies forward and current Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for his handling of his development.

Speaking at the end of last season, the youngster said: “I think I’ve made a lot of appearances for my first senior season.

“With the way it’s gone, I think I could maybe have had more but that’s football. The gaffer has a lot of experience in the game and he knows how to get young players into the team and manage their development.

“Obviously I think I could have played more but it’s worked out and I think I’ve played well and maybe he has judged it right. I could have played more but maybe not as well as I have.”

Newcastle were credited with an interest in Wharton throughout last season and it is believed the Magpies are still monitoring his development after he featured in ten of his side’s first eleven Championship fixtures so far this season.

However, speaking via his Patreon page, journalist Alan Nixon has claimed Everton have joined Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion in trying to tempt the Ewood Park club into parting company with one of their prize assets.