Liverpool's Adam Wharton Move as Curtis Jones Heads to Inter
Liverpool’s midfield is on the brink of a major reshuffle – and Adam Wharton has moved to the top of the agenda.
With Curtis Jones closing in on a switch to Inter Milan, Liverpool are preparing to push hard for the Crystal Palace midfielder, according to reports, as Andoni Iraola looks to reshape the core of his side.
Jones out, rebuild gathers pace
The dominoes started to fall on Wednesday. Fabrizio Romano declared his trademark “here we go” on a deal taking Jones to Inter, with a verbal agreement in place for a package worth around €35m. The player has since been filmed arriving in Milan to complete medical checks and finalise the move.
Jones’ departure is the latest piece in a busy summer at Anfield.
Liverpool have already tied up permanent deals for Victor Munoz from Osasuna and Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, while Ronald Araujo has arrived on a season-long loan from Barcelona to bolster the defence.
Up front, the club are locked in a long-running pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, a move that has dragged on for weeks as Iraola searches for fresh firepower after the loss of Mohamed Salah, who joined Trabzonspor at the end of last season.
Now attention is swinging back to the middle of the pitch.
Iraola greenlights Wharton pursuit
CaughtOffside report that Liverpool are “targeting an ambitious move” for Wharton as a direct response to Jones’ exit.
Sources cited by the outlet suggest the club are ready to “accelerate their pursuit” of the 22-year-old, with Iraola giving his approval to the plan. The Spaniard is said to be convinced that Wharton’s ability to dictate games from deeper areas could unlock more freedom for Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai higher up the pitch.
The profile fits. Wharton is calm in possession, progressive with his passing and comfortable taking responsibility in the build-up – traits that would suit Iraola’s high-tempo, front-foot approach.
The problem? Crystal Palace.
Palace dig in over £78m valuation
Palace have no intention of making this easy. The Eagles are reluctant to cash in on one of their prize assets this summer and value Wharton at around £78m, a figure that would force Liverpool into serious negotiations if they are to bring him to Anfield.
For a player who only made the step up from the Championship in the first half of last season, it is a bold stance. Palace, though, know exactly what they have.
So does Declan Rice.
Rice’s glowing verdict on England team-mate
Back in June, on England duty, Rice did not hold back when asked about Wharton’s impact around the national team camp.
“He’s been outstanding,” the Arsenal midfielder said, highlighting how the youngster had impressed senior players in training with his composure and calmness on the ball.
Rice pointed to Wharton’s rapid rise – half a season in the Championship, then into Crystal Palace’s side, then into the England squad for his first European Championships at just 20. He praised Wharton’s “beautiful left foot”, “really crisp passing” and his attitude: a down-to-earth player desperate to learn, unfazed by big occasions and “ready when called upon”.
For Liverpool’s recruitment team, those words will only reinforce what their data and scouting have already flagged.
The question now is simple: with Jones heading to Serie A and Iraola’s rebuild accelerating, will Liverpool push through Palace’s resistance and pay the price for Wharton, or walk away and risk watching one of England’s most promising midfielders flourish somewhere else?
