Liverpool have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace.
Arne Slot failed to sign a deep-lying midfielder during the summer window with the Reds having been frustrated in a bid to sign Martin Zubimendi.
Despite their intention to activate the Spaniard’s release clause at Real Sociedad, the midfielder turned down a transfer to the Premier League in favour of remaining in the Basque Country.
Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence as a genuine option at number six has lessened the need for reinforcements, but Liverpool remain interested in signing a specialist defensive midfielder.
Transfer journalist Ekrem Konur has claimed Liverpool are ready to rival Manchester United for Wharton and are weighing up an offer in excess of £37m.
Wharton hit the ground running following his £18m move to Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers in January, with his form across the second half of the 2023/24 season earning the 20-year-old a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.
His performances have alerted several of the Premier League’s top teams with Manchester City also named as admirers, while Manchester United want to bring the midfielder back to the North West.
The Red Devils signed Manuel Ugarte from PSG in the summer but are likely to see Christian Eriksen and Casemiro move on in the upcoming transfer windows.
