LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton celebrates with the trophy after the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton celebrates with the trophy after the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Propaganda)
Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage claims Liverpool-linked midfielder Adam Wharton pledged his commitment for this season despite offers from elsewhere.
Sage would not reveal which clubs made approaches for Palace’s No. 20, but Liverpool were widely credited with an interest early in the summer.
The Reds ended the transfer window without bringing in another midfielder, though it has since been corroborated that Monaco’s Lamine Camara would have been a target had Alexis Mac Allister left.
Liverpool are expected to strengthen their engine room in 2027 and This Is Anfield understands Wharton is still on their radar.
“I heard things about [Wharton],” Sage told reporters on Thursday.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz is challenged by Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz is challenged by Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“We received offers, too, but the club was strong with his situation and I think the player is completely in line with that.
“He never spoke with me about a possible departure, that’s why I think he is in this project to manage his career.
“He is really smart to do it like this.”
Questioned over where the offers came from, Sage replied: “We have no time to speak about these clubs, but you know, he’s a good player.”
Ismaila Sarr “needs time” to get over Liverpool transfer failure
Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr celebrates with the trophy after victory over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Europa Conference League Final at the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig. Picture date: Wednesday May 27, 2026.
Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr celebrates with the trophy after victory over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Europa Conference League Final at the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig. Picture date: Wednesday May 27, 2026.
Palace were firm in their stance on Wharton’s future – with a move slated for next summer instead – and the same applied for Ismaila Sarr, with Liverpool enquiring over his availability as a possible Cody Gakpo replacement.
Ultimately, Sarr stayed at Selhurst Park and Gakpo was denied an £80 million move to Man City, and Sage admitted the Senegal international “needs time” to get over the disappointment of missing out on joining Andoni Iraola‘s side.
“Like every bad situation, time does the job and we need time for that,” Sage explained.
“He needs time too. First of all he needs to recover because he was and is injured.
“He is our player and we are happy with that. Sarr has to digest it for sure because it’s a dream for a lot of players to play with this kind of club.
“He had a good opportunity but in the end it didn’t work. If he wants to continue, you have to have a good season with us as he did last year. We know he needs time.”
Sarr was previously a target for Galatasaray, while he has been linked with move to Al-Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League transfer window still open until October 12.
n’guessanconfirmed
Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)