£100m tag stalls Liverpool’s Wharton pursuit amid midfield fees

A £100m valuation set by Crystal Palace has cooled Liverpool’s pursuit of midfielder Adam Wharton, with the Reds reportedly stepping back after the English club’s price tag, which follows Elliot Anderson’s recent £116m transfer to Manchester City. The valuation, higher than Liverpool’s usual spend on midfielders, has forced the club to reassess its options.

Liverpool have already bolstered their defensive and attacking lines with the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. A midfield reinforcement now appears necessary as Curtis Jones is linked with several clubs and is valued at £35m, while questions linger over Alexis Mac Allister’s future.

Ben Jacobs told The Redmen TV that Liverpool are not actively pursuing a deal for Wharton. “At the moment, nothing is moving forward and Liverpool have other central midfield targets in mind,” he said.

The Reds are reportedly eyeing Lille’s 18‑year‑old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, though competition for his signature is expected to be fierce. Additional names on Liverpool’s radar include Ligue 1 midfielders Lamine Camara and Mamadou Sangare.

West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes is also expected to command a high fee, with estimates around £85m. Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall has indicated a desire to leave, adding another potential target for Liverpool’s midfield overhaul.

The market’s inflationary trend, highlighted by Elliot Anderson’s £116m move, has seen clubs set steep valuations, limiting Liverpool’s ability to secure a bargain. Consequently, the Reds must navigate a crowded field of high‑priced midfield prospects this summer.