Report: Liverpool pushing hard to sign £70m midfielder this summer

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Liverpool have long admired him, according to the report, and there is also the suggestion that “the player also wants to join the Merseysiders if given the opportunity.” That line will encourage supporters, because player desire can be decisive when several major clubs circle.

Manchester United are also mentioned among the competition, while Real Madrid’s presence gives this story an extra layer. If Liverpool are genuinely ahead of Madrid for a young midfielder of Wharton’s profile, it would reflect both ambition and urgency.

The fee, though, will be substantial. The article claims “a deal could cost around £80m or even more,” while later suggesting that “£60m isn’t cheap by any means.” Either way, Crystal Palace will not surrender such a player cheaply. Wharton has Premier League experience, European pedigree and age on his side. Those qualities inflate price, and rightly so.

Slot Could Unlock Gravenberch Again

When Slot arrived at Liverpool, he wanted a specialist No 6. Martin Zubimendi was the obvious target, but when that move did not materialise, Ryan Gravenberch was reshaped into a deeper, more controlled midfielder.

To Gravenberch’s credit, he adapted. Yet adaptation is not always optimisation. The Dutchman’s best qualities at Ajax were his carrying power, physical stride and ability to surge through midfield. Asking him to sit permanently can limit that natural dynamism.

That is where Wharton becomes compelling. The article argues that “the need for a specialist number six has grown, and Wharton would be able to fill that role perfectly, while also freeing up Gravenberch to go back to being his all-action best self.”

That point feels central. Wharton could give Liverpool a calmer base, allowing Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and others to play with greater freedom. He would not need to dominate headlines every week. His value would come in rhythm, positioning and decision-making.

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Transfer Fee Must Match Liverpool’s Plan

There are still questions. Curtis Jones’ future is described as uncertain, while Mac Allister has been linked with a move away after what the article calls “a below-par campaign from the Argentina international.” Liverpool cannot allow too many midfield pieces to move at once without risking instability.

Wharton would represent a long-term investment, but also an immediate tactical correction. At 22, he fits the age profile. With Premier League experience, he reduces adaptation risk. With technical poise, he suits the demands of a possession-heavy Liverpool side.

The mention of Jeremy Jacquet, “who has already signed,” adds to the sense that Liverpool are trying to front-load business. That should please supporters. Too often, clubs lose time chasing deals in late August. Liverpool need certainty, clarity and conviction.

If Wharton becomes the first major move of the window, it would tell a story. Slot wants more control. Liverpool want more security. The midfield needs a conductor as much as a runner. Wharton may be expensive, but if he gives Liverpool structure for the next six years, the fee could soon look like the cost of proper planning.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Liverpool fans, this is exactly the sort of rumour that feels both exciting and necessary. Adam Wharton looks like a player built for the next phase of this midfield. Calm, progressive, brave in possession and already tested in the Premier League, he ticks many of the boxes supporters have been discussing all season.

The key attraction is what he could do for the whole structure. Ryan Gravenberch has done a job as a deeper midfielder, but many fans still believe his best football comes when he can carry the ball and influence games higher up the pitch. Wharton arriving as a specialist No 6 could release him, while also giving Mac Allister and Szoboszlai better protection and clearer roles.

The fee will cause debate. £80m is serious money, particularly after last summer’s huge spend. Yet supporters will remember Liverpool missing out on Zubimendi and then spending months trying to solve that problem internally. If Wharton is the player Slot really wants, then the club should not drift.

Liverpool need a summer of precision, not noise. Wharton would be a statement of planning, not panic. For many fans, that is the most encouraging part.