Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey wants his old club to make a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in the summer
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been told to make a move for England midfielder Adam Wharton - with Arne Slot urged to also consider a new left-wing option in the summer.
The Reds have been linked with a number of players ahead of the end-of-season transfer window having had a disappointing defence of the Premier League title they won so convincingly last year.
Midfield has been pinpointed as an area for improvement with Alexis Mac Allister rumoured with interest from Real Madrid and Wataru Endo having struggled for minutes before suffering a serious foot injury earlier this month.
And 22-year-old Crystal Palace man Wharton, who is being courted by several top clubs, has been highlighted as a potential signing by former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.
"I think Liverpool do need more of a sitting midfielder like Adam Wharton," said Heskey. "I do feel that we need options in there and I think Wharton gives you that really good option in midfield as a six.
"He’s left-footed so having someone in there that can really dominate and he's a fantastic passer of the ball too. That's what you need for Liverpool because you're going to get a lot of the ball.
"I think Sandro Tonali is probably a bit too much like what we’ve already got in (Dominik) Szoboszlai and then there’s Ryan Gravenberch, who I think is more of a runner with the ball although obviously last season he changed to play more of a six role.
"You can probably release him a little bit more if you have a Wharton in there. Gravenberch is young and he's got the legs. He can go forward and start stretching them legs a bit rather than having a defensive role."
Speaking to OLBG, Heskey also believes the left wing is an area Liverpool should address in the summer with Cody Gakpo having struggled for form while operating in the position this season.
"Is left wing another area where Liverpool need to look at in the summer? Yeah, I think so," he added.
"I don’t think Cody Gakpo has had a great season, to be honest with you. I just think I've seen better from him. I don't think he's produced like last season.
"I'm not sure if he's a winger. That's my personal opinion. I think he would probably be better off in a 9 or 10 role. But you're not going to play him at 10 if (Florian) Wirtz is there.
"But again, it all depends on what the manager wants in a winger because I'm so used to wingers being high and wide and hugging the touchline, then being able to go down the line or cut inside, one-two and shoot.
"Gakpo doesn’t really do that. I think he's more of an inside winger or number nine."
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