With the Premier League campaign finishing in less than a month’s time, a number of clubs will be looking at next season and what additions they could make to their squads.
One of those sides who are looking to add additional quality to their midfield is Liverpool. The Merseyside club are reportedly eyeing up Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as a potential addition this summer.
The Reds are looking to tempt the young midfielder away from South London with a reported fee in excess of £50 million. The question will be whether Wharton will want to move back to his home in the North West.
Who is Adam Wharton?
Wharton started his career at his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers. The 21 year old progressed through the academy of his boyhood club and signed a professional contract in 2022.
His first start for Rovers came in August 2022 and he went on to make 51 appearances for the Lancashire side. A move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace materialised in 2024 and the 21 year old made 16 appearances in the second half of the season.
His impressive performances saw his first England call up and a first senior appearance for the national side against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024. Despite being named in the squad for the UEFA European Championships, Wharton was an unused substitute throughout the tournament.
Despite injury reducing his minutes this season, the Blackburn youth product has caught the eye of Liverpool with his impressive performances. After his impressive first season in English football, Arne Slot is reportedly keen on adding Wharton to the Red’s squad for next season.
What could Adam Wharton bring to Liverpool?
Wharton has adapted to Premier League football incredibly well and received high praise from Crystal Palace’s manager Oliver Glasner:
“He’s stepping up so quick and is adapting to Premier League football and the intensity, the speed of the game”
“His decision-making, his-pre-orientation, his solutions with or two touches are amazing”
One of the key attributes that Wharton could bring to Liverpool is his technical ability on the ball. According to fbref, the midfielder has completed 76.1% of passes over the past year with an average of 7.53 progressive passes (passes that move the ball towards an opponent’s goal at least 10 yards) per 90 minutes.
The Crystal Palace midfielder’s vision and delivery of decisive passes may be a huge benefit to Liverpool. His ability to pick out passes has led to him producing an average of 3.68 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year.
Not only would Wharton bring attacking qualities to Anfield but also defensive solidity which is likely to impress the Liverpool hierarchy. The young midfielder has made 2.62 tackles, 1.34 interceptions and 1.73 clearances per 90 minutes on average within the last year.
It is clear that Wharton is one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League. His performance in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup Semi Final victory against Aston Villa will provide Liverpool with confidence that the 21 year old can perform in high-pressured fixtures.
Against Villa, the Crystal Palace midfielder dominated the game with 71% passing accuracy, 71% of ground duels won and a total of four recoveries of possession across the match. This performance could suggest to Liverpool that Wharton will be able to handle the pressure of important matches at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League and in a potential title race next season.
How likely is Adam Wharton’s move to Liverpool?
Given Wharton’s impressive performances over the past year for Crystal Palace, it is no surprise that he will be centre of transfer speculation this summer. The question will be whether Liverpool is the best move for the young midfielder.
The 21 year old will likely be the first name on the team sheet at Selhurst Park should he remain and, with Blackburn due 15% of the profit from any sale of Wharton, Palace will no doubt be looking for a big asking price especially with four-and-a-half years left on his contract. At a young age, the midfielder may believe that regular football at Selhurst Park with the potential of European football (should Palace win the FA Cup) is the best thing for his development.
On the flip side, if Wharton is looking to break into the England side ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup he may see a move to the Merseyside club as a necessity. A move to Liverpool and his native North West could be a huge incentive for Wharton to potentially kick-on and become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.