Liverpool Transfer News: Liverpool are leading the charge to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with Manchester United and Real Madrid also keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old England international. Palace are standing their ground, insisting on at least £80 million before they even think about a sale.
Manchester United Transfer News: Liverpool and Manchester United chase Adam Wharton as Crystal Palace demand £80m
This transfer saga is a big deal because sporting director Richard Hughes is making midfield signings a priority, especially with Curtis Jones expected to move on and major questions still surrounding Alexis Mac Allister’s future at Anfield. Both Liverpool and Manchester United are going into the summer needing a midfield refresh, and Wharton is right at the heart of the conversation.
Wharton’s style of play provides the exact option that Liverpool are missing. His calmness on the ball and his knack for controlling the game make him a great match for Arne Slot’s tactics. At the same time, reports from TEAMtalk suggest United see Wharton as a future star for the club and think he’d actually prefer a move to Old Trafford.
This adds another dimension of preference that Liverpool can’t just brush aside. Wharton moved to Palace from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024 and played a key role in their 2025 FA Cup win, which was the club’s first-ever major trophy. Since then, his stock has soared. In the 2025-26 Premier League season alone, he’s racked up 2,200 minutes, five assists, four yellow cards, and one red, maintaining a solid 7.0 FotMob rating.
The situation is becoming urgent for both sides. Mac Allister was a massive part of Liverpool’s title win, but his form has dipped lately, and it looks more likely than ever that he could leave. For Manchester United, the timing is just as tricky as they try to rebuild a squad that hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Real Madrid are still watching from the wings, confident that Wharton could be a future starter for them, though it’s unclear if they can beat out the Premier League giants. Palace, however, don’t want to be pushed around. After losing Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Marc Guehi in the last 18 months, they are desperate to keep their best players this time.
Liverpool Transfer News: Which club needs Adam Wharton more: Liverpool or Manchester United?
For Liverpool, the move is about fixing the team’s backbone. With Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister likely on their way out, the club will probably have to sell players to fund an £80m move. Wharton’s profile, composed, disciplined, and able to set the pace, is exactly what Slot needs if Mac Allister departs. Liverpool do have the Champions League card to play, which is a massive plus since Wharton is reportedly eager to play in Europe’s top competition.
Over at Manchester United, the interest is there, but the plan seems less clear. United definitely need a player like Wharton, but they also need new defenders, attackers, and a clear tactical direction. While he’s seen as a natural fit for United, the club have so many holes to fill that their budget will be spread thin. Liverpool’s target is more specific, which usually leads to quicker moves in the market.
Manchester United Transfer News: In my view, Liverpool need Wharton more urgently because their problem is very specific: they need one elite holding midfielder to hold Slot’s system together once the veteran players leave. United’s rebuild is so massive that one signing won’t fix everything. Whether Liverpool can pull this off depends on Palace’s willingness to negotiate, and after losing Olise and Eze, Palace know exactly how much it hurts to let talent go too early. At £80m, both Liverpool and United are facing a massive financial decision that will set the tone for their entire summer.
Rohit Sarkar
Rohit Sarkar is a passionate writer with a deep love for multiple sports, but his favourites are football and cricket. Since 2017, he has been covering football and cricket news with a keen eye for detail and compelling storytelling. He is a fan of the beautiful game and a specialist…