Forget Adam Wharton: Liverpool already have their ideal midfielder | OneFootball

David Lynch: Swapping Curtis Jones for Adam Wharton Would Be a Mistake

With growing speculation that Liverpool could look to offload Curtis Jones amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur and potentially target Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as a replacement, journalist David Lynch made his stance clear: such a move would be a serious misstep.

Speaking on Media Matters for Anfield Index, Lynch rejected the idea entirely. “No one should be happy if Liverpool swap Curtis Jones for Adam Wharton,” he said. “I know Adam Wharton’s a good footballer, but Curtis Jones is a scouser, he’s homegrown, and he’s clearly good enough.”

Jones More Than Just a Squad Player

Jones has grown into one of Liverpool’s most reliable performers, especially amid the team’s broader struggles this season. Lynch described him as “so reliable in any kind of game” and highlighted his versatility: “He wins his duels, keeps the ball, can speed it up or slow it down — he’s just a really good footballer.”

With 18 months left on his contract, Jones is now at a crossroads — and Liverpool are under pressure to act. “They’ve done all the work to develop him,” Lynch noted. “He’s 23 and just starting to show his best football. You don’t sell a player like that unless you’ve lost the plot.”

Why Wharton Isn’t an Upgrade

Adam Wharton has impressed at Crystal Palace, but Lynch doesn’t see him as an upgrade — especially given Jones’ connection to the club and understanding of what it means to play for Liverpool. “He’s a Liverpool fan, he wants to stay, and he’s happy with his role,” said Lynch. “You’re not going to get better value than that.”

Photo: IMAGO

Homegrown, Proven and Committed

Lynch’s wider concern reflects a familiar issue in modern football — the undervaluing of homegrown players in favour of market opportunism. “If you sell Curtis for profit and replace him with Wharton, what’s the point?” he asked. “You’re not just selling a player. You’re selling your identity.”

The timing, too, would be baffling. “Curtis Jones is easily good enough to pick up 40 or 50 games a season,” Lynch reminded listeners. “And he’s content being rotated. You don’t find that kind of player easily.”

With transfer speculation intensifying and Liverpool’s midfield under constant scrutiny, Lynch’s message to the club hierarchy was clear: “Curtis Jones has to stay. End of.”