Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has continually been linked with a summer move to Liverpool, and a new claim has added to the speculation.
The 22-year-old is one of the most exciting English players of his generation, possessing with calmness and technical class that feels more continental than British in style.
Wharton is reportedly seen as a leading midfield target for Liverpool when the season comes to an end, as they look to add much-needed freshness in that area of the pitch.
Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown backed the Reds to make a move for the youngster this summer, following a good performance at Anfield last weekend:
“Liverpool were keeping a close eye on Adam Wharton’s performance. He’s somebody they’ve been aware of since his time at Blackburn with the connections they’ve got there, so they know plenty about him.
“A good performance at Anfield is another feather in the cap for him, because it counts for a lot when you see somebody doing well against your own midfield. So it wouldn’t surprise me if they made a move for him, he certainly ranks highly there.
“There’s lots of talk about Wharton and whether he can leave Palace, and it will take a big fee to get him out, but Liverpool will feel they can go and get him. Their midfield at the moment is a big stale, a bit the same, and I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way because they’ve got a very good midfield.
“But Wharton, his range of passing, how silky he is in possession of the ball, he would add something to Slot’s team that they haven’t got at the moment.”
Adam Wharton a perfect summer signing for Liverpool
Granted, Wharton won’t arrive at Liverpool on the cheap, but considering how young and talented he is, it could be a bargain over time.
He may have been on the losing team away to the Reds last Saturday, but there were still moments of class on show on the ball, and he created three chances for teammates, according to FotMob.
The only drawback with Wharton is that he has had some injury problems down the years, but that is hopefully more an age thing, and there is so much to love about him as a footballer.
He has to be seen as priority business for Liverpool, and from a Reds point of view, they may even want to strike a deal before the World Cup, should his stock rise futher after potentially impressing at the tournament.