Liverpool have significantly stepped up their pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, according to reports from TEAMtalk.
The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young midfielders since joining Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers.
Wharton has been part of a remarkable period of success at Selhurst Park, winning the Conference League, FA Cup, and Community Shield during his time there.
He was particularly impressive in Crystal Palace’s Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano last term, earning the Player of the Match award for his performance.
Liverpool have identified the young midfielder as their ‘top target’ this summer after being impressed by his recent eye-catching performances in the top flight.
The Merseyside club are facing potential departures in midfield, with Curtis Jones set to leave and Alexis Mac Allister also linked with a move away from Anfield.
Liverpool’s owners are prepared to back new manager Andoni Iraola in the transfer market and are ready to invest more than £70m to secure Wharton’s signature.
Wharton’s current contract at Crystal Palace runs until 2029, but reports suggest the player himself is open to making the move to Anfield this summer.
Liverpool have reportedly intensified their efforts to seal the deal in recent weeks and believe an agreement with the South London club can be reached soon.
Should Liverpool fail to land Wharton, TEAMtalk report that AFC Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has been identified as a potential alternative option for the club’s midfield rebuild.
Without Jones and Mac Allister, Liverpool would be left relying on Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, and Dominik Szoboszlai for midfield options heading into the new season.
Endo has struggled with fitness problems in recent months and found himself on the periphery under Arne Slot, making the need for reinforcements even more pressing.
Wharton is a technically gifted left-footed deep-lying playmaker who is also capable of performing efficiently in a box-to-box role when required.
He is extremely comfortable in possession, capable of threading passes between the lines, and contributes well defensively, making him an ideal fit for Liverpool’s system.