Adam Wharton is reportedly “an option” for Liverpool this summer, reports Ben Jacobs.
The Crystal Palace midfielder is understood to have been on the Reds’ radar for several years, with the club having tracked the England international since his Blackburn Rovers days.
This comes amid suggestions that several Liverpool stars, including Curtis Jones, could be up for sale to help fund another expensive summer transfer window.
Ben Jacobs hopped onto X (formerly Twitter) on Friday afternoon to confirm the Merseysiders’ ongoing interest in the 22-year-old.
With both Alexis Mac Allister and Jones potentially on the chopping block, Arne Slot’s men may need to dip into the market to replenish their midfield numbers.
As reported last week on @talkSPORT, Adam Wharton an option for Liverpool.⬇️ https://t.co/MT0Ab6242a
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 1, 2026
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The key thing for Liverpool, however, as far as we at Empire of the Kop are concerned, is ensuring that we have a clear idea about the makeup of our midfield going into the 2026/27 season.
The most logical next step is to establish Florian Wirtz as your bolt-on No.10 behind a rank of three attackers. Once we establish that, we know we’re potentially looking at a double pivot behind the Germany international.
And at least one of those two options needs to be a “battler” who can win duels as well as be comfortable on the ball.
Does Wharton fit that particular bill?
For Jeremain Pennant, the choice is simple. Wharton or Elliott Anderson should be at the top of Liverpool’s list to fill the No.6 spot.
Now, we can’t really see us forking out the £100m or so that Nottingham Forest want for the 23-year-old. So that leaves his Crystal Palace counterpart – reportedly valued at £70m (Football 365). That’s a figure we can see Liverpool uhming and ahing over less.
Now, statistically speaking, we can see why Adam Wharton has caught the eye at Anfield.
* Adam Wharton stats at Crystal Palace in 2025/26 (per 90) in the Premier League (Fotmob)
He’s clearly one of the most creative midfielders in the Premier League at this moment in time.
The big concern for us, however, is what the Englishman offers against the ball. We’re not necessarily fussed with his limited defensive contributions (10.49 per 90, ranking in the 56th percentile).
But there should be an eyebrow or two raised at his limited duels won percentage (49.6% per 90, ranking in the 33rd percentile).
Ideally, Liverpool need a player who can do both to a more than proficient standard.
Of course, if we do end up losing both Jones and Mac Allister this summer, we could see this being a transfer that gets moved along quite quickly ahead of the World Cup.
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If he’s going to replace Alexis mac allister then it’s another step backwards. A replacement for endo or Jones as a back up a positive.
The biggest problem buying an English player is technically tbey are inferior on the ball, especially in midfield, passing forward ect. youll see it again in the world cup.
you watch psg and bayern munich how good they are keeping possession. We need better technical players to close the gap, buying English players for the midfield is not the Answer. I don’t rate Wharton, with or without the ball. Crystal palace owners play hardball when selling players, you can imagine what kind of transfer fee they would want from us. What happened in the marc Guehi transfer should tell you to keep well clear. Get better players, better value abroad. If spurs get relegated, go there to get bargains.
MacAllister has been poor this season. Wharton is a step up. His distribution is excellent. Getting rid of Jones makes us better straight away.
But we need more than Wharton. We are quite frankly, rubbish.
I support you bro we need players from abroad
We need players from abroad and lfc should sell because we have spend a lot of money last summer
What kind of club are we letting these NONE SCOUSERS run for LOCALS going to watch the game wanting to see LOCAL LADS from OUR ACADEMY coming through OUR SYSTEM. LETTING SCOUSERS go to teams not just in the UK but abroad and getting rave reviews. Come on lets see 1 or 2 local lads come through, as long as they are good enough, the ACADEMY is GREAT it is the next step that ISN’T. IT WAS BEFORE, WHY ISN’T IT NOW. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT DON’T WE?,
We have needed a midfield enforcer for three seasons now…it is about time we did something about it, we need a midfielder that can tackle and enforce in the middle, play makers are fine when you have the ball, it is another thing when you need to break attacks and win the ball back, crazy money for Wharton who is quite frankly not the answer. Duels won should be the priority NOT A SECOND THOUGHT…we need a Bruno Guimarães who last season ran 423 km across 37 matches the most from any player that season. We end up buying players in the middle who like to watch the attacking team run into our own goalmouth from behind enjoying the view. YNWA!!!
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