Liverpool's midfield has been highlighted as a potential problem area, with the Reds told to go out and sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace before the transfer window closes
Liverpool has been told to sign Adam Wharton to fix the issues in midfield
Liverpool has been told to sign Adam Wharton to fix the issues in midfield(Image: (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images))
Liverpool has been told to make a move for Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton in the final week of the transfer market to help fix some key concerns in the midfield.
The 22-year-old has impressed in the Premier League since he made the switch to Selhurst Park from Championship outfit Blackburn, making just shy of 100 appearances for the Eagles. The midfielder has picked up England international call-ups and has shown that he can break up play in the deeper role, while starting attacks with his line-breaking passes in possession.
It's the sort of role that Liverpool could do with, amid concerns over the current options available to Andoni Iraola and how they all fit in at the same time.
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As shown in the draw away at Newcastle, the Reds have an offensive-minded setup when Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai start alongside each other, with Florian Wirtz in an even more advanced role.
It saw the team counterattacked on time and again, as the Magpies were given plenty of space to transition the ball from defense into attack, scoring their two goals from those situations.
That has led some fans to call for a specialist number six, with Wharton being a possible target, which could help strengthen the overall security and balance of the team.
Wharton has impressed since joining Crystal Palace
Wharton has impressed since joining Crystal Palace(Image: Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
With that in mind, former player Jermaine Pennant has called upon Liverpool to get a deal done for the Crystal Palace and England ace, as he told Oddschecker: "Given where Liverpool are right now and how much they need a defensive midfielder, I would pay for Wharton.
"If Elliot Anderson went for £116 million [$158.2 million], Wharton is not a million miles away. He's an international with calls for him to be in the England squad. So for me, I'd say pay."
It's the type of move that Liverpool could get done to improve the team, though it is not likely to happen in the final week of this summer's transfer window.
Crystal Palace has already turned down an approach from Manchester City earlier this window, according to The Athletic, with the London club showing no intention of selling the 22-year-old before the deadline arrives.
Alongside that, Iraola has already made it clear that he doesn't feel the midfield issues are down to the specific players, seemingly ruling out a transfer in the process. Speaking after the Newcastle draw, he explained: "It’s not just personnel.
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"I understand that Ryan Gravenberch is basically the number six and is on the edge of the box, and if he shoots and scores, then we are saying, 'What a play from Ryan Gravenberch.'
“I don’t want us to take that from his game, but we have to adapt as a team to these situations, we have to know these situations can happen. The second goal, we did better in terms of having the numbers to defend, but we don’t make a foul or go to the first challenge. It’s not just because one person is playing there. It’s something we have to correct between a lot of players.”
It remains to be seen how the manager plans to change it, but for now, it seems as though a midfielder won't be on the cards for the final week of the transfer window, despite the pleas from fans and former players alike.