The summer transfer window is heating up, and Liverpool fans have a new name to get excited about: Adam Wharton. According to reporter Ben Jacobs, the Crystal Palace midfielder is "an option" for the Reds this season—and a massive Friday update suggests things could move very quickly.

Wharton, just 22 years old, has been on Liverpool's radar for years, with scouts tracking him since his breakout days at Blackburn Rovers. Now an England international, he's emerged as a prime target to bolster Arne Slot's midfield. This news comes amid chatter that several current stars, including Curtis Jones, could be sold to fund another big-spending window at Anfield.

Jacobs confirmed the Merseysiders' ongoing interest on X (formerly Twitter) Friday afternoon, adding fuel to the fire. With both Alexis Mac Allister and Jones potentially on the chopping block, Liverpool may need to dip into the market to refresh their engine room. For the Reds, the key is clarity: what does the midfield look like heading into the 2026/27 season?

The most logical next step? Locking in Florian Wirtz as a No. 10 behind a front three, then building a double pivot behind him. At least one of those two spots needs a "battler"—someone who wins duels and stays cool on the ball. For pundit Jeremain Pennant, the choice is simple: Wharton or Newcastle's Elliot Anderson should top Liverpool's list for the No. 6 role.

Given Nottingham Forest reportedly want £100m for Anderson, that leaves Wharton—valued at £70m by Crystal Palace (per Football 365). It's a hefty price tag, but one Liverpool might just be willing to pay. Whether the Reds pull the trigger remains to be seen, but this transfer saga is shaping up to be one of the summer's most intriguing storylines.