Journalist Confirms Liverpool are ‘Monitoring’ Premier League Midfielder Ahead of Potential Major Move | OneFootball

Liverpool Monitoring Adam Wharton: Why Palace’s Midfield Gem Fits Anfield’s Long-Term Vision

Liverpool are “monitoring the situation” surrounding Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, according to The Daily Mail’s Jack Gaughan, as interest in the gifted 20-year-old midfielder surges across Europe. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also reportedly keeping close tabs on the former Blackburn prodigy, with Manchester City and Newcastle having previously explored deals.

It’s no surprise. Wharton’s mix of technical intelligence, composure in possession, and tactical maturity has made him one of the most sought-after central midfielders in Europe. What’s particularly compelling from a Liverpool perspective is how he fits the mould of a player capable of thriving in Arne Slot’s newly crowned Premier League-winning side.

From Ribble Valley to Wembley

Wharton’s journey from the playing fields of Wilpshire to Crystal Palace’s midfield has been nothing short of remarkable. His development was carefully curated through a mix of education and on-pitch innovation at Blackburn, where his hybrid schedule with Moorland School allowed him to train more than most of his peers.

Educators even claimed “he could have turned to rocket science” had football not worked out, a line that says as much about his brain as his boots. As Darragh Tuffy, his former coach, put it:

“He could tell you what was happening in a game brilliantly – better than a coach could. Even at half-time, he would come to you and tell you what was wrong.”

It’s that acute football intelligence – and his ability to execute ideas with a smoothness and calm rarely seen in players his age – that will be catching Liverpool’s eye.

Photo: IMAGO

Palace’s Diamond and Liverpool’s Interest

Wharton joined Palace for £22m before he’d even made 50 senior appearances for Blackburn. Now, after a standout second half of the 2024/25 season – including a possible FA Cup final appearance – his value has reportedly soared to around £60m.

Gaughan reports that “Liverpool are monitoring the situation” closely, and that Real Madrid scouts have also made checks in recent weeks.

This aligns with the Reds’ recent transfer approach: young, high-ceiling talents with the capacity to become elite under structured coaching. Wharton’s profile – a tactically sharp No. 6 with a creative edge – could make him an ideal long-term successor to players like Alexis Mac Allister or Wataru Endō.

“People used to criticise him for not running enough… but probably having more effect. He just knew where to be.”

Those words from Tuffy echo the qualities Liverpool increasingly value: intelligence over intensity, timing over pure pace.

The Right Profile for Slot’s Revolution

Wharton’s positional versatility – having played as an attacking midfielder, left winger, and deep-lying playmaker – speaks to his adaptability. Slot’s system at Liverpool encourages ball-dominant midfielders with vision, press resistance, and awareness of space.

The English international (he earned his first senior cap in 2024) brings all that and more. Notably, his calm presence under pressure and his ability to read the game could complement Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, while offering depth in deeper roles too.

Photo: IMAGO

Tony Mowbray once described him as “outstanding” during his time at Blackburn, and his ceiling remains sky-high. Liverpool’s interest is not speculative – it’s strategic.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s no doubt Adam Wharton fits the modern Liverpool DNA. Calm in possession, intelligent off it, and humble in demeanour, the young midfielder embodies the type of footballer Arne Slot appears to build systems around. After all, this is a manager who took the Reds to a Premier League title in his first season by trusting process over superstardom.

Wharton’s backstory – including debating pressing stats with academy coaches or spending hours dissecting Arsenal’s shape with his agent – suggests a football obsessive. That obsession translates into performances of poise beyond his years.

The fact that he has thrived in a Palace side still rediscovering its identity, and done so in a position he didn’t start in (having been an attacking midfielder earlier), adds even more to his case. At £60m, he may not come cheap – but when you consider the ages of Liverpool’s current midfielders and the club’s preference for long-term investments, Wharton feels like a logical target.

Slot will be looking to add versatility and technical consistency to his midfield core ahead of a season that includes Champions League football. Wharton ticks all the boxes, and perhaps more importantly, appears to possess the temperament to thrive at Anfield. He doesn’t need flash. He just gets it.

If Liverpool do move, expect it to be deliberate, considered – and potentially decisive. The Reds don’t often chase the obvious. But when they chase the right one, they rarely miss.