According to our sources, Liverpool have decided to step up their pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. The club have made a midfield overhaul a summer priority and plan to reshape the squad around Dominik Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai to Stay, Jones Exit Opens Space
Since the summer transfer window opened, the Reds have sent a clear message: Szoboszlai is not for sale. Last season's Player of the Season is a central pillar of the club's long-term plans, and any bid will not be taken seriously. By contrast, academy graduate Curtis Jones could be allowed to leave, with Inter Milan the likely destination. For the coaching staff, this is a difficult but necessary trade-off — Jones's development at Anfield has been plain for all to see, but when the squad needs room for signings with greater immediate impact, sanctioning his departure may be the more responsible choice for both player and club.
Alexis Mac Allister's future remains under review, with interest from other European clubs adding uncertainty to the midfield picture. If Jones departs and fresh midfield reinforcements follow, Liverpool's player turnover will directly serve the rebuild of their Premier League title-challenge structure for the new season. After last season's failed title defence, the club's hierarchy is clear that the existing squad alone cannot sustain a push on multiple fronts — both the attack and midfield require substantial strengthening.
Wharton Leads the List, Scott Also in Contention
In the pecking order for midfield reinforcements, Wharton has been placed at the top of the list. Crystal Palace have attached a hefty price tag, and Liverpool are pushing to accelerate negotiations, intent on beating rival suitors to securing this homegrown midfielder who can dictate play and hold his own in the physical battle. At the same time, Bournemouth's Alex Scott has also surfaced on the shortlist, with both viewed as exactly the type Liverpool are most eager to recruit.
Worth noting is that neither Wharton nor Scott made England's World Cup squad. The omission is regrettable, but it has also freed them to channel all their energy into the summer transfer window and settle their next destination more quickly. For Liverpool, with ambitions of returning to the peak, adding a homegrown midfielder on an upward trajectory would strengthen the spine of the side while helping to balance the squad's age structure.
Front-line additions and a new brief for the coaching staff
Midfield is not Liverpool's only focus this summer. Following Mohamed Salah's exit, reinforcements out wide have been moved up the agenda, with the likes of Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola coming into the frame. New manager Andoni Iraola has taken over from Arne Slot, and the tactical setup faces a full recalibration. From the intensity of the front-line press to the tempo of midfield circulation, every personnel change will ripple through the broader training plan.
From the coaching staff's standpoint, should Wharton ultimately join, the key issue is not the transfer fee but whether he can quickly understand Szoboszlai's movement patterns and maintain passing quality in high-intensity duels. The numbers show that in possession-dominant games, Liverpool often command more than 70 percent of the ball and generate close to 20 shots per match. The new midfielder must be able to sustain that level of operational efficiency under intense pressing.
What to watch next
Over the coming weeks, whether Jones can finalize a move with Inter Milan and whether talks over Wharton enter a substantive phase will directly dictate the pace of Liverpool’s midfield rebuild. If either Wharton or Scott lands at Anfield, Iraola will have a complete tactical jigsaw in place for pre-season; if negotiations drag on, the club could again face the familiar problem of being short-handed early in the season. For supporters tracking transfer developments, this midfield recruitment thread will be the key barometer of how successfully Liverpool navigate the summer window.
