Liverpool Join Man Utd in £80M+ Battle for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton
Liverpool have formally contacted Crystal Palace to register interest in signing Adam Wharton. England’s most wanted midfielder is ready to leave south London — and two giants are lining up to take him.
TL;DR
- Liverpool made an official enquiry for Wharton on April 17, per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.
- Manchester United are also firmly pursuing the 22-year-old England international.
- Crystal Palace are demanding at least £80M, with Wharton under contract until 2029.
- A verbal agreement exists: Palace will not block a move to a Champions League club.
Liverpool have entered the £80M race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
They now go head-to-head with Manchester United — and a growing list of European heavyweights — for one of England’s most coveted young players.
The Enquiry That Changes Everything
Liverpool have joined Manchester United in the chase for Wharton, with Crystal Palace valuing him at £80M, according to talkSPORT correspondent Alex Crook’s April 17 report.
Liverpool’s recruitment team view Wharton as the player who can anchor their midfield “for years to come,” per TEAMtalk’s April 17 scouting intelligence briefing.
The Reds have been doing “significant groundwork” on the 22-year-old to get ahead of their rivals.
Why Liverpool Need Him Now
Liverpool are eyeing Wharton as a direct replacement for Curtis Jones, who is expected to leave Anfield this summer, per Alex Crook’s findings published April 17.
Uncertainty also surrounds Alexis Mac Allister, whose future has prompted sporting director Richard Hughes to prioritise midfield reinforcement this window.
This season, Wharton created 11 big chances in 28 Premier League appearances and five big chances in 11 Conference League outings — statistics that underscore his growing influence.
United’s Pursuit — and Its Complications
Manchester United’s need is equally pressing.
The Red Devils are hunting two new midfielders this summer as Casemiro’s time at Old Trafford draws to a close and Manuel Ugarte has failed to fill the Brazilian’s role, per Yahoo Sport’s April 17 transfer breakdown.
However, Wharton’s compatibility with Kobbie Mainoo — a player the club’s hierarchy consider central to their rebuild — remains an obstacle United must resolve before committing.
United are also considering Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and several other profiles, with their final midfield direction “expected to be clearer by the end of April,” according to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs.
The Competition Is Widening
Liverpool and United are not alone.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have both “registered strong interest” in Wharton, per TEAMtalk’s intelligence, with Arsenal and Chelsea also monitoring the situation.
Real Madrid have been searching for Wharton’s profile since losing Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in successive summers — making their pursuit particularly credible, per The Hard Tackle’s April 18 report.
What Palace Will Accept
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison addressed the numbers directly, speaking to GOAL.
“Yeah, £60M, £70M — if someone wants to pay £80M, I think they’d bite your hand off,” Morrison said. “He’s a top player. If he makes the England World Cup squad, his price goes up even more.”
A verbal understanding exists between Wharton and Palace: the club will not block a departure to a Champions League side if the right offer arrives, per GiveMeSport’s exclusive April 18 report.
Palace’s official starting valuation remains £80M. Multiple sources close to Wharton believe a lower figure could open formal talks.
The Blackburn Clause
Any deal carries a hidden cost.
Wharton joined Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers in early 2024 in a £22M deal — a transfer that included a sell-on clause entitling Blackburn to a share of any future profit.
That clause means a £70M sale would trigger a payment back to Blackburn — a figure every interested club must factor into their true cost of acquisition.
Wharton’s Ambition
Wharton believes he is ready for a Champions League club, according to The Sun, and looks certain to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup.
England captain Declan Rice described Wharton as “outstanding” after watching him train with the national team — a peer endorsement that carries weight with potential suitors.
Wharton is Blackburn-born and could prefer a return to the North West — a geographical factor that may tilt the balance toward Liverpool in any final decision.
Palace’s Hand
Crystal Palace hold significant leverage.
Wharton is not agitating for a move. His contract runs to 2029, and Palace retain full control over the terms of any departure.
The Eagles reached the Conference League quarter-finals this season. Should they qualify for Europe again, that could convince Wharton to stay at Selhurst Park for another year.
The summer window opens in June. By then, a World Cup campaign could push Wharton’s market value well beyond the current £80M ceiling.
For Liverpool and United, the window to act cheaply — if “cheap” applies at this scale — is closing fast.
