Liverpool’s summer season rebuild continues to collect momentum, with Arne Slot trying so as to add high quality and depth throughout a number of positions.
Defence is the main target in the intervening time, because the membership push to safe Parma’s Giovanni Leoni and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
The necessity for defensive reinforcements grew after Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez’s calf harm, leaving Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk as the one match senior centre-backs.
Alongside this, Liverpool’s recruitment staff have additionally been monitoring the Isak state of affairs at Newcastle.
If any encouragement is given, they’re able to return with one other bid for the Sweden worldwide.
Liverpool focusing on new midfielder
The membership are focusing on reinforcements in one other space of the pitch: midfield.
The participant in query has drawn comparisons with a few of Europe’s most refined passers, as an alternative of the same old industrious English midfielders.
To some, he’s a throwback to the times when Xabi Alonso dictated the tempo at Anfield, switching play with metronomic precision and breaking strains along with his imaginative and prescient.
That participant is Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace’s rising star, described by Henry Winter as a “urgent machine” and by Oliver Glasner as somebody whose “decision-making is wonderful.”
Wharton first got here to wider prominence after signing from Blackburn Rovers for an preliminary £18m in January 2024.
His adaptation to Premier League soccer has been seamless when match.
Though a groin harm sidelined him for 17 video games final season, he nonetheless made 27 appearances throughout all competitions, offering two league assists and exhibiting the sort of sport intelligence extra usually related to considered one of La Liga’s most cultured midfielders.
His affect was notably evident throughout Palace’s run to the FA Cup closing, along with his semi-final show in opposition to Aston Villa underlining his skill to dominate a sport with out fuss.
Liverpool are removed from the one suitors. Certainly, in keeping with Simon Jones of the Day by day Mail, Actual Madrid are understood to be monitoring the 21-year-old, whereas Tottenham made an inquiry earlier than Could’s FA Cup closing.
Manchester United and Manchester Metropolis are additionally within the combine, although Liverpool’s long-standing admiration makes them one of many front-runners ought to Palace resolve to promote.
Adam Wharton: Shades of Alonso
The Xabi Alonso comparability isn’t a lazy one.
Each gamers share a deep-lying playmaker’s intuition, working the place the pitch is in entrance of them, scanning earlier than receiving, and hitting passes that slice by way of stress.
Alonso’s Anfield legacy rests on his technical magnificence and tactical intelligence.
Wharton is shaping right into a midfielder of the identical mould, mixing defensive consciousness with creativity. Statistically, the resemblance is putting.
Based on Fbref, Wharton ranked within the 91st percentile for key passes per 90 (1.78), the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90 (7.31), and the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 final season (4.03).
A move is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the subsequent contact is at the very least 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s objective or any accomplished move into the penalty space.
These numbers place him amongst Europe’s most incisive passers, with the 86th percentile for lengthy passes accomplished (4.78 per 90) hinting on the sort of diagonal switches Alonso as soon as made a trademark.
Wharton additionally ranked within the 93rd percentile for dribblers challenged efficiently (3.00 per 90) and the 96th percentile for ball recoveries (6.97 per 90).
He presses with goal, tackles decisively, and anticipates hazard early.
Liverpool’s present choices in midfield – Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch – all convey particular person strengths, however Wharton presents a uncommon mixture.
The defensive functionality to defend a again line and the technical imaginative and prescient to dictate from deep.
In that sense, he might be the lacking hyperlink in transitioning Liverpool from one part of play to the subsequent, one thing Alonso did underneath Rafael Benítez.
There’s additionally a psychological ingredient at play. Alonso was by no means flustered, and Wharton carries the identical air of composure.
In massive moments – like Palace’s equaliser within the Neighborhood Defend in opposition to Liverpool, which he arrange – he appears to make the best alternative most of the time.
That knack for calm decision-making in high-pressure conditions is exactly what Liverpool want as they appear to construct on final yr’s title.
The worth tag might be the sticking level. Palace know they’ve a priceless asset, and curiosity from Madrid and a number of Premier League rivals will solely drive his valuation up.
His present market worth in keeping with Transfermarkt is round £40m, however any deal would seemingly require a determine effectively past that, particularly given his age and home-grown standing. Some studies recommend the Eagles worth him at £100m.
For Liverpool, the query turns into whether or not the fee is well worth the potential Alonso-esque impression.
For now, Liverpool’s consideration might stay divided between defensive targets and the Isak chase, however the temptation to safe their new Alonso will probably be onerous to withstand.
In Wharton, they wouldn’t simply be shopping for expertise – they’d be investing in a taking part in type that after underpinned one of many membership’s most profitable trendy sides.
