Liverpool enter the race for Crystal Palace's midfield star, Adam Wharton. They join Manchester United and Real Madrid in hunting down the £80m star but Palace insist he is not for sale.
Football is a fickle game, just when you think you can sit back and enjoy Crystal Palace entering the Conference League semi-finals, the transfer rumour mill starts spinning again.
With Palace having their third consecutive excellent end to a season, it seems inevitable they will have their third consecutive summer of uncertainty.
Last year it was Eberechi Eze, who eventually joined Arsenal after starring in the FA Cup success.
The year before it was Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich and has become one of the world’s very best in Bavaria.
This summer, it looks like it will be Adam Wharton who is the subject of some big offers from some big clubs.
Manchester United have been long-term admirers of Wharton and Real Madrid also previously joined the queue to sign the midfielder but there is another club who are interested.
According to Talksport, Liverpool are the latest side to show interest in Adam Wharton, with the former Blackburn midfielder emerging as a major midfield target.
We previously heard that Wharton had made it clear he expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer and sign for a Champions League club.
Palace recouped significant fees for both Olise and Eze and they will be looking for the same for Wharton, with the report quoting a fee of £80 million for the 22-year-old.
Liverpool are in a position unlike a year ago, where they had just won the league at a canter and were expected to do the same this time around.
But with a Champions League spot likely despite their drop in form, they will be able to rebuild the squad that has disappointed so much this season.
Curtis Jones looks set to leave, while Alexis Mac Allister, so good a season ago, has struggled and has interest from Real Madrid.
That is where Wharton comes in, with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards looking to provide solutions for Arne Slot ahead of next season.
The report says: “Wharton’s attributes side heavily with Liverpool’s current midfield deficiencies.
“Strong in possession and an ability to dictate play with composure, the 22-year-old provides the perfect foil for Slot’s needs.
“However, firstly, the Reds must oust Manchester United in the race for Wharton’s signature.
Despite the interest from three of the very biggest clubs in the game, Palace remain adamant they will not be selling Wharton this summer.
Having lost Olise, Eze and Marc Guehi to Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester City in the last 18 months, Palace are looking to finally keep hold of one of their top players.
They will have to fend off several huge clubs for Wharton and also Maxence Lacroix in what looks to be another challenging summer in the market for Palace.