Real Madrid scouts have checked on Adam Wharton since his return to first team action at Crystal Palace.
Juni Calafat, chief scout with the Spanish giants, is a confirmed admirer of the 21-year-old England international and Madrid staff have been sent to monitor the Palace midfielder's progress.
Wharton, who is expected to be named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad, has recently returned to action after a longer than expected spell out following hernia surgery.
Manchester City had been expected to make a move for him in the January window, but his injury came at the wrong time with the Premier League champions eventually plumping for Nico Gonzalez from Porto.