Liverpool now one step closer to incredible Adam Wharton agreement | OneFootball

Liverpool are now one step closer to agreeing a deal for Adam Wharton.

Who doesn’t love watching a midfielder like the Crystal Palace midfielder play football?

Wharton feels like a throwback to a different era of the game — the low socks, the classic Adidas Predators, the effortless composure on the ball and, above all, the intelligence he brings to every moment of the game.

He plays with a calmness and awareness that instantly stands out, the kind of player who reminds people why they fell in love with football in the first place.

In many ways, his style is reminiscent of a prime Thiago Alcântara. Not because he copies him directly, but because of the elegance and control he brings in midfield.

His reading of the game is exceptional, his first touch is almost always perfect and his passing through the lines constantly puts his team on the front foot. Everything seems to slow down when the ball reaches him.

That is why the comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold make so much sense.

Replacing Trent was never going to be about finding another player with exactly the same profile because players like him barely exist. Instead, it is about finding someone capable of offering similar creativity, vision and technical quality from deeper areas of the pitch.

Right now, there are very few players in the Premier League who combine those qualities quite like he does. It is no surprise Wharton has already forced his way into the England national football team setup, and even less surprising that so many Liverpool supporters would love to see him at Anfield.

Midfield reinforcements during the upcoming transfer window will be the utmost priority for Richard Hughes. This is an area where Liverpool have long needed new additions.

Anfield Watch understands the club has already drawn up an ambitious shortlist of potential midfield targets, with several names currently being assessed by the recruitment department.

Midfield has become a particularly important area due to the uncertainty surrounding several key players.

Contract talks with Alexis Mac Allister have reportedly reached a standstill, raising doubts over his long-term future at Anfield. At the same time, Curtis Jones is entering the final year of his current contract, creating another unresolved situation Liverpool must address.

It is understood Wharton has emerged as Liverpool's top midfield target heading into the summer transfer window.

The club see the Crystal Palace star as an ideal fit for Slot and believe he has the quality and intelligence to help take the team to the next level.

Crystal Palace are expected to demand around £80 million for the England international, but that valuation has not scared Liverpool away.

Club officials remain huge admirers of Wharton’s profile, particularly his composure on the ball, passing range and ability to control games from midfield and have tracked him since his time at Blackburn.

Another factor to take into consideration is how open Palace would be to sell him. Wharton is seen as their prized asset and they know they cannot allow their star player to leave so easily.

With the World Cup coming up, Palace will be aware that a good performance at the tournament also ensures they could get an even bigger fee for Wharton.

It's why Liverpool will want to wrap this deal up quickly and it looks like Liverpool are one step closer to striking an agreement with Palace.

The latest update from The Telegraph reports that Palace have made Hayden Hackney their no.1 target this summer.

Hackney is a midfielder who plays in Wharton's position, so you can put two and two together an assume he is their Wharton replacement.

With that being the case, it also means Palace have accepted that Wharton is leaving this summer and are already working on ways to facilitate that.