Liverpool Close to Landing Palace's Wharton Ahead of Real Madrid with £86m Offer

Adam Wharton looks set to swap Selhurst Park for Anfield, with Liverpool edging out Real Madrid in the race for Crystal Palace's prized young midfielder.

The Merseyside outfit have tabled a €100 million (£86m) package to snatch the 21-year-old England international away from the Eagles, with the deal reportedly in its final stages. Wharton has already signalled his willingness to make the move, signing up to a five-year contract in principle, leaving Los Blancos struggling to compete on the deal's terms.

Palace find themselves in a precarious position on the pitch—marooned in a wretched winless streak—and off it. Marc Guehi departed to Manchester City earlier this month, head coach Oliver Glasner has already announced his summer exit, and Jean-Philippe Mateta is eyeing the door with Aston Villa circling. Now their brightest young talent appears poised to follow suit.

Liverpool's summer spending spree exceeded £400m, yet their subsequent collapse since clinching their 20th Premier League crown underscores the work still required. The club's defensive frailties will demand immediate attention, likely necessitating at least two centre-back signings come summer. But Wharton's emergence as a target suggests the Reds are casting their net wider across the pitch.

The midfielder has emerged as one of the Premier League's most promising talents, attracting admirers from across Europe and domestically. Manchester United have also been mooted as potential suitors as they plot their own squad reconstruction.

Real Madrid's pursuit has now hit the buffers, with Palace's valuation proving a sticking point for the Spanish giants. Liverpool's willingness to meet the asking price, coupled with Wharton's eagerness to complete the switch, has tilted the scales decisively. The arrangement also includes a sweetener allowing the player to remain in England until the season concludes—a compromise that has helped seal the midfielder's enthusiasm for the transfer.

Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who has reportedly been identified as a potential successor to Arne Slot at Liverpool, had specifically requested Wharton among a quartet of marquee signings. Whether that interest influenced the club's accelerated pursuit remains unclear, but the deal now appears a formality pending the final paperwork.