Liverpool have made initial contact over what could be the third-biggest transfer in their history.
GiveMeSport reports that Liverpool have made initial contact over a move for Adam Wharton. The midfielder has been heavily linked with an exit heading into the summer.
Crystal Palace, after all, do genuinely sell their best players. They just don't sell them particularly cheap.
Wharton looks like being the latest to move on. Palace would apparently want £80m for him, however, in what would be the third-biggest transfer in Liverpool's history.
Only Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have cost more than that. It would eclipse the £75m paid for Virgil van Dijk and be an enormous statement of intent from the club.
The midfield does need a bit of a rebuild and Wharton largely feels like the kind of player Liverpool need. Will he be worth £80m? That one's up for debate.
But it does feel like the going rate for a homegrown, Premier League-proven midfielder.
Adam Wharton: Situation Summary
Midfield Command and European Campaign
As of 19 April 2026, Adam Wharton has evolved into the tactical heartbeat of Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace. The 22-year-old has made 30 appearances this season, contributing five assists and maintaining an elite 81% pass completion rate under high pressure. He was a standout performer in Palace’s recent UEFA Conference League quarter-final first-leg victory over Fiorentina, shaking off a minor adductor strain to dictate play in a 3–0 win. Following the club's historic FA Cup win in 2025, Wharton has been the primary reason the Eagles have transitioned from mid-table regulars to genuine European contenders.
Transfer Valuation and International Status
Wharton’s meteoric rise has made him one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe, with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid all reportedly monitoring his progress. To protect their asset, Crystal Palace have placed a definitive £85 million price tag on the player, citing his contract which runs until June 2029. On the international stage, Wharton has become a fixture in the England squad; his performance in the March friendly against Uruguay further solidified his place in the setup. He is widely projected to start for the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup, with many pundits viewing him as the natural successor to Declan Rice in the deep-lying playmaker role.
