Enquiry made for £78m summer signing as Liverpool get answer on Adam Wharton deal

Crystal Palace have reportedly set Adam Wharton’s price tag at £78m.

However, the Mirror reports that the Eagles are “desperate” to hold on to the Englishman this summer.

A point David Ornstein and Sam Lee have concurred on in a separate report with The Athletic, with Palace firm on their intention not to sell the midfielder despite fresh enquiries from Manchester City.

No mention of Liverpool in latest Adam Wharton report

It’s rather telling that there’s no mention of Liverpool interest in Wharton in The Athletic’s latest update on the situation.

Surprising, even, given that Curtis Jones is now looking set to join Inter Milan this summer, further depleting Andoni Iraola’s already skinny squad.

Regardless, it seems like it’s Enzo Maresca’s City prepared to make up the most ground here amid their own efforts to bolster a midfield battered by the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders.

Perhaps, with our No.17 now having been formally given permission to travel for a medical, the gears could quickly turn for us.

But it still seems as if we’re stuck in the sand while we wait for a resolution to the ongoing Bradley Barcola saga.

Liverpool could do with making a midfield statement this summer

We’re incredibly conscious of the fact that Richard Hughes and Co. have an awful lot of work to do before the window shuts on September 1. So much so that Liverpool and Iraola are inevitably going to be left short in an area (or areas) beyond the deadline.

Now, the big question is in what areas Liverpool’s management team is comfortable being short in ahead of the 2026/27 season (kicking off against Newcastle on Sunday).

With the midfield pivot, currently led by Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, looking pretty key for the success of the side, we’re not convinced that Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister are the right combination to sub in when required. The latter’s athleticism in particular would have to be considered problematic, and given the ground that would need to be covered, this could yet again leave Liverpool with gaping holes in the middle of the park.

Mind, we’re not totally set on the idea of Wharton being the right fit in that regard either, given he’s generally deemed more effective alongside a more physical, athletic midfield option.

And we’re not sure Liverpool can afford to make such compromises in Andoni Iraola’s system, especially if we’re committing to a 10 in Florian Wirtz. Not unless we’re signing an absolutely superhuman option in midfield who can cover enough ground for two midfielders.