Liverpool are circling.
Adam Wharton’s name has surfaced at Anfield—again—as Arne Slot’s new regime begins to shape its spine. At 21, the Crystal Palace midfielder is one of the league’s brightest rising playmakers, and Liverpool, per Football Insider, wants him at the heart of their next evolution.
It makes sense. Wharton’s recent performances haven’t just turned heads—they’ve shifted conversations. His role in Palace’s unexpected FA Cup final run, where they’re set to meet Manchester City, has only amplified his stock.
But here’s the catch: Palace won’t budge easily.
Oliver Glasner’s men are building, not selling. Wharton only arrived from Blackburn last year and still has four years on his deal. His valuation? Around £30 million—but expect that number to stretch if Liverpool press.
Why Wharton?
His passing range is sublime. He floats in tight spaces. And while he isn’t the most defensively aggressive, former scout Mike Brown believes that won’t matter in Liverpool’s possession-dominant system. The flaw becomes a feature. The rhythm of the red machine would mask his rougher edges.
But urgency matters. Liverpool’s midfield puzzle has lingered unsolved since last summer. Injuries, inconsistency, and a post-Klopp transition have exposed gaps. Wharton isn’t a headline signing—but he’s a foundation one.
And perhaps that’s what Slot wants first: control.
Still, whispers remain whispers until a bid is made. And Palace? They know what they have.
If Liverpool move, they’ll need to move decisively—and pay heavily. Because in Wharton, Palace see more than a midfielder.
They see the future.