Liverpool’s summer reconstruction continues to raise momentum, with Arne’s slot machines looking to add quality and depth in multiple locations.
The defense is a temporary focus as the club strives to secure Giovanni Leoni of Parma and Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace.
The demand for defensive enhancement has grown after Jarell Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez, which has made Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil Van Dijk the only suitable senior middle guards.
In addition, Liverpool’s recruitment team has been monitoring Newcastle’s ISAK situation.
If any encouragement is given, they are ready to return to another bid for Sweden International.
Liverpool targets new midfielder
The club’s goal is to be in another area of the court: the midfield.
The players in question are compared to some of Europe’s most sophisticated passers rather than the usual hard-working British midfielder.
For some, he is the return of Xabi Alonso on the days when Anfield commands rhythm, to measure accuracy switching and breaking lines with his field of vision.
That player was Crystal Palace rising star Adam Wharton, who Henry Winter described as a “urgent machine” and Oliver Glasner was described as a “stunning decision-making.”
The Wharton first went on a wider location after signing the initial £18m from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024.
His adaptability to Premier League football is seamless.
Despite a groin injury that lost him 17 games last season, he still played 27 games in all games, providing two league assists and showing off the gaming intelligence associated with one of La Liga’s most cultural midfielders.
His influence was particularly evident during the Palace’s FA Cup finals, with his semi-final performance against Aston Villa underscoring his ability to dominate in a game without fuss.
Liverpool stays away from the only suitor. Indeed, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Real Madrid is understood to be monitoring the 21-year-old, while Tottenham asked ahead of the FA Cup final in May.
Manchester United and Manchester City are also involved, although Liverpool’s long admiration has made them one of the leaders in the Palace’s decision to sell.
Adam Wharton: The Shadow of Alonso
The Xabi Alonso comparison is not a lazy comparison.
Both players have a deep playmaker instinct, run in front of the court, scan before receiving, and hit the pass for losing pressure.
Alonso’s Anfield legacy depends on his technical elegance and tactical intelligence.
The Wharton businessman is shaping the midfield of the same mold, blending defensive awareness with creativity. Statistically, the similarities are astonishing.
According to FBREF, Wharton ranked 91st percentile (1.78) in the 91st percentile (1.78), 91st percentile (7.31) per 90 progressive rate (7.31) and 93rd percentile (4.03) in every 90 shooting moves last season.
If the distance between the starting point and the next contact is at least close to the opponent’s goal or any completed free throw zone, the pass can be considered as progressive.
These numbers place him among Europe’s most keen passers, with the 86th percentile of long passes (4.78 per 90) hint at the kind of diagonal switch that Alonso once became a trademark.
Walton’s dribble also ranked 93rd percentile (3.00 per 90) and 96th percentile (6.97 per 90 points) in the 90th percentile (6.97 per 90 points).
He pressed purposefully, eliminated decisively, and foresaw the danger as soon as possible.
Liverpool’s current midfield choices – Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch – all bring personal advantages, but the Wharton offers a rare combination.
Defensive capabilities block the backline and the technological vision determined from the depths.
In this sense, he might be the missing link to transition Liverpool from one stage to the next, and Alonso did it under the leadership of Rafael Benítez.
There is also a psychological element. Alonso never panics, and Walton also has the same calming air.
In important moments – like his equalizer in the community shield against Liverpool, he seems to make the right choices often.
Liverpool’s trick to keeping a calm decision under high pressure based on last year’s championship is exactly what Liverpool needs.
Price tags may be sticky points. The Palace knew they had valuable assets, Madrid’s interest and multiple Premier League competitors would only increase his valuation.
His current market value is about £40 million under Transfermarkt, but any deal may require a figure that goes far beyond that, especially given his age and local status. Some reports show that the Hawks value him £100 million.
For Liverpool, the question is whether the cost is worth the potential Alonso style impact.
For now, Liverpool’s attention may still be distributed between defensive goals and ISAK chases, but the temptation to ensure its new Alonso will be hard to resist.
At Wharton, they will not only buy talent—they will invest in a play style that was once one of the most successful modern aspects of the club.
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