Liverpool have signalled their intent to secure the long-term future of their midfield by preparing a massive £80m summer package for Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton. Reports from GiveMeSport indicate that the Reds are positioning themselves to win the race for the 21-year-old, who is now widely expected to follow Marc Guehi through the Selhurst Park exit door.
The Palace Exodus: Opportunity Knocks
The mood in South London has shifted from defiance to resignation. With captain Marc Guehi having already sealed a January switch to Manchester City and manager Oliver Glasner confirming his departure at the end of the season, Crystal Palace appear to be entering a full-scale liquidation phase. This instability has alerted Liverpool’s recruitment team, led by Richard Hughes, who see an opportunity to extract Wharton before his value spirals further post-World Cup 2026.
While Palace are protected by a contract running until 2029, the internal acceptance is that Wharton’s trajectory has outgrown the club’s current project. The touted £80m fee would represent a club-record sale for the Eagles, softening the blow of losing their tactical heartbeat, but for Liverpool, it is viewed as the necessary premium to secure a player described internally as a "generational controller."
Tactical Fit: Slot’s Missing Link
Arne Slot’s first season has been defined by control, but the Dutch tactician remains in the market for a specialist No.6 who can dictate tempo under extreme pressure. Wharton’s metrics this season—despite a campaign interrupted by niggling groin injuries—remain elite in terms of progressive passing and resistance to the press.
Unlike Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister, who thrive in more advanced or hybrid roles, Wharton offers the disciplined positional play that allows full-backs to invert or overlap with greater freedom. His arrival would theoretically complete Slot’s midfield evolution, providing the defensive security that was occasionally exposed during the winter fixture congestion.
The Betting Angle and Competition
The Adam Wharton next club odds have seen a dramatic shift since the January window opened. Liverpool have shortened to clear favourites, overtaking Manchester City, who may have satiated their immediate appetite for Palace players with the Guehi purchase.
However, the threat of Real Madrid remains a background concern. If Liverpool hesitate or attempt to haggle over the structure of the £80m fee, they risk opening the door for the Spanish giants, who have been monitoring Wharton as a potential successor to their aging midfield stalwarts. By moving early for a summer agreement, Liverpool are attempting to close that door firmly.