Liverpool shift focus as £100m target edges ahead of Adam Wharton

 

 

Liverpool have been repeatedly linked with Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton over recent months.

Midfield is one of several areas where Arne Slot’s squad is currently light on depth. A possible January exit for Curtis Jones has been suggested, while Wataru Endo has struggled to secure regular Premier League starts under Slot.

Wharton has been mentioned multiple times as a potential option to bolster the centre of the pitch, but talk of an imminent move has been toned down. This week, another name has entered the conversation.

Speaking on The United Stand, journalist Ben Jacobs offered an update on Liverpool’s transfer plans, addressing the Wharton rumours before pointing to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers as a possible alternative.

Jacobs dismissed claims of an agreed deal for Wharton, insisting no long-term contract is in place and that a move to Anfield is far from settled. He added that while Crystal Palace are keen to tie the midfielder down, Wharton’s ambition to play Champions League football could lead to a summer departure.

However, Jacobs stressed that he is unaware of Liverpool making any concrete move so far, suggesting instead that the club may target a different midfield profile—one that brings players like Rogers into consideration.

Rogers, formerly of Middlesbrough, has emerged as a key figure at Aston Villa, with reports claiming the club would demand around £100m for his services.

Although Liverpool are expected to strengthen in midfield, Rogers may not be the perfect fit. Despite his obvious quality, he is most effective as a No.10 or on the left flank, rather than in the deeper midfield role where Liverpool currently lack cover.

Deploying Rogers centrally would likely force Dominik Szoboszlai into a different position, while using him on the left could prevent both Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz from starting together in the same XI.