Liverpool are reportedly ready to step up their pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer transfer window.
The Reds endured a difficult campaign last term, leading the club to part ways with Arne Slot despite him delivering the Premier League title in the 2024/25 season.
Andoni Iraola has since been appointed as Liverpool’s new manager, following three impressive years at AFC Bournemouth that earned him significant attention across European football.
The Spanish boss has wasted no time in identifying targets, with Liverpool already working to strengthen the squad ahead of his first season at Anfield.
Revamping the flanks is said to be a priority, with RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande identified as a serious option in that area of the pitch.
However, according to Football Insider, Iraola is also keen to bring in a new central midfielder, and Liverpool have been impressed with Wharton’s performances last season.
The Merseyside club hold a long-standing interest in the 22-year-old and have been closely monitoring his development at Crystal Palace over recent seasons.
Wharton missed out on England’s World Cup squad after Thomas Tuchel decided not to select him, but that omission is unlikely to dampen Liverpool’s enthusiasm for the player.
Crystal Palace are in no hurry to sell, with the midfielder’s contract running until 2029 and the club having secured Europa League football for next season.
Transfermarkt value Wharton at around £60m, meaning Liverpool would need to table a highly convincing offer to persuade Palace to part with one of their prized assets.
The Englishman is a left-footed deep-lying playmaker but is equally capable in a box-to-box role, offering genuine tactical versatility to any side he plays for.
He is technically sound, capable of threading passes between the lines, delivering crosses from wide areas, and making meaningful defensive contributions throughout a match.
His profile as a proven Premier League performer who still has room to develop makes him an attractive and potentially shrewd acquisition for Iraola’s evolving Liverpool side.
Whether Liverpool will move beyond interest and lodge a concrete bid during this transfer window remains the key question as the summer progresses.