Signing RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande is a priority for Liverpool, but they are also keen to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
A move to secure Diomande’s signature is complicated by Leipzig reportedly increasing the player’s transfer fee by £1m a day on average, with PSG and Liverpool both firmly in the race.
Signing Wharton is going to be very difficult as well, with Palace placing a £100m price on his head. The Englishman isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool are tracking, with Alex Scott linked, while one of the most exciting links so far this summer sees the Reds chasing a £56m move to sign PSG star Warren Zaire-Emery.
Curtis Jones is expected to join Inter Milan this summer, although the Italian outfit is yet to match Liverpool’s demand of £35m. Once an agreement is reached on a fee, it will proceed, which is a shame as he was the only Scouser to play regularly at Anfield last season.
Latest on Liverpool’s interest in Wharton
While it currently seems as though a move to sign Wharton will prove to be too expensive for the budget Liverpool are working with this summer, the 22-year-old is an ideal player for their on-pitch needs.
According to trusted Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto, Liverpool are intent on signing Wharton.
Speaking on Radio Marca, Moretto said: “I’m told that Liverpool wants Adam Wharton a lot!”
?? ??? – @MatteMoretto speaking to @RadioMARCA: "I’m told that Liverpool wants Adam Wharton a lot!" pic.twitter.com/eUK4M2IVHn
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) June 12, 2026
Signing Wharton will be really difficult, and Manchester City have potentially made it a lot tougher.
On Wednesday, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein reported that Man City have made a verbal proposal to Nottingham Forest to sign the talented Elliot Anderson worth £106m plus add-ons, which would take the overall fee to over £120m. Forest wanted a guaranteed Premier League record fee, which would make him more expensive than the £125m Liverpool paid to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United last summer.
? Manchester City verbal proposal to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson was worth £106m + add-ons, taking it above £120m. #NFFC want British record fee guaranteed, not after bonuses. No fresh talks with #MCFC over 23yo England midfielder @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/DdanEQcqnz
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 10, 2026
Liverpool really should be doing everything they can to sign Wharton to get back up to speed
Not only did Liverpool dramatically fall from grace after the Premier League title triumph in 2025, but many of their players regressed under Arne Slot’s bemusing tactical setup. In midfield, things were particularly messy.
Ryan Gravenberch, who was named Young Premier League Player of the Season in 2024-25, was so poor that it makes it hard to believe how good he was before last season. Alexis Mac Allister appears to have regressed physically quite drastically. Dominik Szoboszlai was the only Liverpool midfielder to cover himself in grace.
Curtis Jones is leaving for Inter by all accounts, so midfield looks set to become a major issue, and with Andoni Iraola set to place intensive demands on his midfielder players, in particular, it’s vital Liverpool and FSG get their engine room recruitment spot on.
Wharton is incredible and seems like a must, especially if Man City are about to sign Anderson.
I can’t believe we’re not doing everything possible to sign Adam Wharton.
He is so far technically superior to every single midfielder on the market right now.
“But but but he doesn’t run around kicking shins and he’s not as fast as Mbappe ?” pic.twitter.com/Zki29RUdVe
— Bart (@UtdBart) June 10, 2026