Liverpool look set to be in the market to make additions to their midfield after they endured a difficult season under Arne Slot in the Premier League.
Alexis Mac Allister, for example, struggled in the middle of the park in the 2025/26 campaign. The Argentine midfielder lost 55% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in the top-flight, losing the midfield battle far too often.
One of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League is Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, who is set to play for England at the World Cup this summer.
Elliot-Anderson
Liverpool were reportedly looking at a deal for the former Newcastle man ahead of the January transfer window at the start of this year, but they did not go through with a swoop for his services.
They have not been linked with a move for Anderson since then, though, which suggests that they have cooled their interest in Vitor Pereira's star man.
Liverpool considering move for Premier League midfielder
Manchester City are reportedly leading the race to sign the Nottingham Forest central midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the park, leaving Liverpool to look elsewhere.
Now, Andoni Iraola's side are looking at a Premier League talent who could arrive at Anfield as their own version of Elliot Anderson in midfield next season.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest
According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, Liverpool are one of the teams considering a deal to sign Crystal Palace central midfielder Adam Wharton in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Reds and Chelsea are both interested in snapping up the England international, who just missed out on Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton celebrates after Ismaila Sarr scores their first goal
Nixon adds that Palace view him as being at the same level as Arsenal's Declan Rice and Forest's Anderson, which is why they want a fee of £100m to allow him to leave Selhurst Park.
Liverpool are said to be long-term admirers of the former Blackburn Rovers star, but they are put off by the £100m price tag at this moment in time and it remains to be seen if a move for Wharton is viable this summer.
Why Adam Wharton would be Liverpool's own Elliot Anderson
The Reds can completely forget about Anderson and not be worried about his potential move to Manchester City in the slightest if they can secure a deal to sign Wharton from Palace this summer.
elliot-anderson-nottingham-forest
If they decide to splash the cash to bring the £100m-rated star to Anfield, the Eagles sensation could run the midfield for Iraola in the same way that Anderson would have if they had gone for him in January.
Wharton, like the Forest star, is a metronomic midfielder who uses his positioning and quality on the ball to keep play ticking for his side, consistently progressing the ball into dangerous areas for the attackers in the team to do damage in the final third.
25/26 PL Anderson Wharton
Appearances 34 38
Passes in opposition's half 20.6 29.1
Big chances created 14 9
xA 7.38 4.79
Assists 5 4
Possession lost per game 11.7x 17.3x
Both players are incredibly creative deep-lying midfielders in the Premier League, as evidenced by their combined 23 'big chances' created in the division this season.
Wharton's ability to constantly be available to his teammates to take the ball and play it forward, as evidenced by his highlights against Aston Villa in the FA Cup last season, makes him an incredibly valuable midfielder.
The English star, who was hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Matthew Stanger, is not the kind of player England usually produce in the central midfield position, as his game is more about positioning and technical quality than mobility and physicality.
Both Wharton and Anderson represent a new breed of English midfielders, possibly influenced by Pep Guardiola's arrival in England when they were both coming through the youth ranks at their respective clubs.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton reacts after being sent off
The Palace maestro's passing quality and creativity could make him a phenomenal signing for Liverpool, after Alexis Mac Allister only created four 'big chances' in the Premier League this season, failing to offer consistent creativity in the middle of the park.
On top of having the attributes to be a great addition to Iraola's squad, Wharton is proven in the Premier League and still has room left to grow and develop at the age of 22.
The £100m-rated ace would be a signing for the here and now as well as for the future at Anfield, which is why the club should commit to spending such a huge fee for his services in the summer transfer window.
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