Liverpool are chasing a £70m summer transfer for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the Eagles chasing Celtic star Arne Engels as his replacement.
Andoni Iraola has replaced Arne Slot as head coach of Liverpool, who was sacked after his second season at the helm ended in disappointment, but there is a lot of work to be done this summer transfer window.
FSG have already completed a £34.6m move to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but it’s expected that the Spaniard’s acquisition marks the start of a busy summer of recruitment for Liverpool.
Munoz is the perfect squad player for Iraola’s Liverpool, with the Reds set to return to high-octane football. At Bournemouth, the 43-year-old coach became famous for his side’s brave and ambitious brand of football.
At Anfield, with world class talent now at his disposal, Iraola is hopefully going to take the Premier League and Champions League by storm, but he needs certain profiles to be signed to enable him to succeed from the jump.
Adam Wharton is genuinely one of the best passers in the Premier League already and somehow still feels underrated.
The precision on his passing is absurd, but what really stands out is the weight of pass. You could even see why Pep was so impressed. pic.twitter.com/4tsdjLoEjy
— The Stat Guy (@The_Stat_Guy_10) May 14, 2026
Celtic could hand Liverpool the keys to complete £70m Adam Wharton transfer
According to a report from TEAMtalk journalist Fraser Fletcher, Palace are pushing to sign Arne Engels, who transpire to be Wharton’s replacement should Liverpool get a deal done to sign him, which will reportedly be in the realm of £70m.
Fletcher reports: “Arne Engels is getting closer to leaving Celtic, with TEAMtalk understanding that Crystal Palace are now pushing to get a deal done, as Liverpool plot a big-money move for Adam Wharton.
“Nottingham Forest remain keen, having seen multiple bids – including a £25 million offer – rejected in January as they prepare for the potential mega-money departure of Elliot Anderson. However, Crystal Palace have now entered the fray as serious contenders, and are pushing hard to convince Engles to join them this summer.
“The Eagles’ pursuit of Engels comes amid uncertainty surrounding star midfielder Adam Wharton, who Liverpool are considering a big-money move for this summer.”
Wharton would be a fantastic acquisition for Liverpool, even though it is arguably more important for the Reds to sign a defensive midfielder after a season that saw them regularly scythed by opposition teams. The Englishman was snubbed by Thomas Tuchel, who excluded him from England’s World Cup squad but it should not be considered a fair reflection of his ability.