Adam Wharton's masterclass in the Conference League final for Crystal Palace has seen transfer rumors blow up, and if Liverpool has the chance to sign him, it can't make the same mistake as last year
04:00, 29 May 2026
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - MAY 27: Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, Jorgen Strand Larsen of Crystal Palace celebrating the Conference League final victory during the UEFA Conference League Final 2026 match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Football Arena Leipzig on May 27, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Vitalii Kliuiev/Getty Images)
Adam Wharton could be the perfect answer for Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty Images)
The sense of relief that washed over Liverpool fans as the 2025/26 season finally ended tells you all you need to know about just how bad that campaign was.
For Arne Slot and Richard Hughes, though, it might have only signaled the start of an even busier few months. Liverpool has so much work to do on its squad this summer, with problems arising throughout the team over the last eight months or so.
The likelihood is last summer’s $600 million spending spree won’t be repeated, but there’s no doubt there are some areas in desperate need of some fresh blood — not least the midfield.
It feels strange to be in this position again. Just three years ago, Liverpool underwent a complete refresh in the middle of the park, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch arriving, and to their credit, they did make a huge impact on the engine room in their first two years.
But while Szoboszlai has continued to grow as a player, the other two regressed last season, Mac Allister alarmingly so. It’s clear the Reds need a new face in midfield, and had they been watching the Conference League final on Wednesday, they would have seen the perfect option.
Adam Wharton, as he so often does for Crystal Palace, ran the show as the Eagles claimed their first-ever European trophy against Rayo Vallecano. The 22-year-old was simply sublime as he made England manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave him at home for this summer’s World Cup all the more baffling.
Adam Wharton delivered a masterclass in the Conference League final
Adam Wharton delivered a masterclass in the Conference League final(Image: Getty Images)
Anyone who has watched Wharton knows just how good a player he is, and it should be no surprise that Liverpool is being linked with his services — he’s exactly what the Reds need.
We’ve been banging the drum for Wharton for a while, and he would improve Liverpool both defensively and in an attacking sense. A deep-lying midfielder who is quick and efficient in his passing, he could provide the shield the back four so obviously needs, while also speeding the Reds up going forward - something fans and Mohamed Salah have been crying out for.
What’s more, everything just seems to be falling into place for Liverpool to go after Wharton. He will no doubt be disappointed with his England snub, but that should make any negotiations easier this summer, and a reported price tag of $80 million feels like a steal for a player of his caliber — not to mention Manchester United apparently has its doubts about signing him.
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With all of that in mind, Liverpool simply cannot make the same mistake it did last year, when the club found itself in a similar position with Palace for Marc Guehi.
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Admittedly, the defender’s contract situation made things easier, yet Liverpool still managed to fumble what should have been a done deal by quibbling over what was a reasonable asking price for a player that would have made a big difference, as Guehi showed with Manchester City just a few months later.
If the opportunity is there to go for Wharton, which is looking like it could be a big if at the moment, then Liverpool needs to learn from its mistake. This could be exactly what Slot and Hughes are looking for.