Liverpool have emerged as the frontrunners for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the 22-year-old widely expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer. The fee will not come cheap — Palace are thought to be holding out for at least £80 million — but the queue of clubs is long and Liverpool want to move fast. What makes this story bigger: Palace's captain Marc Guehi is also heading for the exit. A brutal summer is coming for Oliver Glasner's side.
Adam Wharton had barely played top-flight football before Euro 2024. Then he walked into the England squad, played with a composure that looked decades older than his actual age, and became one of the tournament's talking points. Since returning, he has transferred that form into consistent Premier League performances for Crystal Palace, cementing himself as one of the most in-demand defensive midfielders in English football.
At 22, with an England cap collection growing and a playing style built on intelligence rather than athleticism, he fits the profile of a modern holding midfielder perfectly. Liverpool, who lost the Champions League-winning version of Fabinho years ago and have been managing in that position ever since, see him as the ideal long-term solution.
Why Liverpool Are Favourites
Multiple reports have highlighted Liverpool's position at the front of the queue. Wharton is said to have made a "big career call" that effectively confirmed his intention to move to a Champions League club — and Liverpool, as holders of the Premier League title, more than qualify. Arne Slot's system would suit his strengths: patient build-up, screening the defence, keeping things simple in moments of pressure.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation. With that kind of competition, Palace are in a strong position to maximise their fee. The contract runs until 2029, so there is no desperation to sell — but if the right number arrives, the club will listen.
Palace Bracing for a Double Exit
The Wharton situation is only half the headache for Palace this summer. Marc Guehi, the club's captain and England centre-back, has rejected a new contract and confirmed he will leave. Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have all been linked, and Glasner himself has confirmed the departure is coming.
Losing both Wharton and Guehi in the same transfer window would represent a significant body blow. These are not fringe players — they are the club's most important performers over the last two seasons. Palace won the FA Cup in 2025, one of the most celebrated moments in the club's history. Keeping that squad together was always going to be a challenge, and this summer suggests the rebuild has arrived ahead of schedule.
What the Fee Buys
For whoever lands Wharton, £80 million secures a player still in the very early stages of his development. He is not the finished article — there are aspects of his attacking contribution that remain to be developed at the very highest level. But the foundations are exceptional: intelligent positioning, clean passing, strong defensive instincts, and a temperament that has already been tested on the biggest stages.
By the time the summer window closes, one of Europe's elite clubs will have spent heavily to bring him in. Right now, all signs point to Liverpool. For Crystal Palace, cashing in on one of their best-ever academy products — or rather, one of their finest ever buys — will at least give them the resources to plan for what comes next.
Stay with SoloScore for all the latest Premier League transfer news, Crystal Palace updates, and the full summer window rundown.
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