Liverpool spent big over the summer in hopes of retaining the Premier League title squarely.
However, despite spending a total of £225m at Anfield, the majority of the £415m spent now appears to have been wasted, with both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remaining goalless.
Thankfully for manager Arn Slott, Liverpool are currently languishing in eighth place, with Manchester United ahead of the Reds on goal difference, and the January transfer window is just around the corner in a bid to turn around the team’s lackluster season.
Liverpool plan to spend big again
You might think that after such a wasteful summer, the Merseyside giants might be more cautious in the transfer department.
However, reports suggest that the reigning champions could go all out to sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich for an astronomical fee of £177 million.
Additionally, Antoine Semenyo, one of the best players in the top flight this term, is also reportedly being watched as the Reds look to strengthen an attack that looks lacking in confidence despite Mohamed Salah starting every week.
In addition to the flashy names rumored to be joining Anfield’s attacking line-up, the latest from Liverpool-based writer DaveOCKOP also reveals that the Reds are in early talks with Crystal Palace for midfield star Adam Wharton.
A move is said to be more likely in the summer of 2026 than the January deadline, but Liverpool’s ambitions in this area are far from ruled out, with it revealed in September that the England international would prefer to join Slott & Co. if he were to leave the Eagles.
Having only made his first start for the Three Lions during this international break, but with a huge £100m price tag hanging over his head, the sky really seems to be the sky for Wharton at the moment.
How Wharton can become the Gerrard of slots
Slott are looking to rebuild their midfield in 2026, but, like Steven Gerrard before them, they may find a new heartbeat in Wharton at the heart of the team.
By the end of his glittering career in the top flight, Gerrard was showered with immense praise, with Gabriel Agbonlahor in particular describing him as the best midfielder in Premier League history, even surpassing Kevin De Bruyne.
“De Bruyne has won more, but for me Steven Gerrard has to be number one.” – Agbonlahor.
Indeed, as well as scoring an astonishing 186 goals and 155 assists for his boyhood club, the well-rounded servant ended his long career on Merseyside with a Champions League title.
As Liverpool’s website fondly wrote when Gerrard hung up his boots, the Englishman was a revered “gladiator” for his boyhood team.
Of course, it would be crazy to expect Wharton to make such an impact from the start of a game at Anfield, but in time he could become Gerrard 2.0, displaying the same level of composure and ball handling from midfield.
Wharton for Palace by Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Statistics (*= per 90 minutes) | 23/24 | 24/25 | 25/26 |
games played | 16 | 20 | 9 |
Number of points scored | 0 | 0 | 0 |
assist | 3 | 2 | 0 |
touch* | 49.6 | 45.7 | 43.9 |
Exact path* | 28.5 (81%) | 26.7 (79%) | 25.2 (78%) |
Key pass* | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Tackle* | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
Ball recovery rate* | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.0 |
Total number of duels won* | 4.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
Statistics by Sofa Score | |||
The data above shows that Wharton is similarly rounded from midfield, which is very similar to Liverpool’s great player, and the 21-year-old will only get better over time as he becomes more and more accustomed to the demands of the Premier League.
Unfortunately, he has yet to fully discover Gerrard’s ability to score goals in the top flight, but with players like Ryan Gravenbirch and Dominik Szoboszlai next to him, he could take his versatile game to the next level if he seizes this big opportunity at Anfield.
Hailed as a “genius” at Blackburn Rovers from a young age by former manager Tony Mowbray, and now an “incredible” star by former Selhurst Park team-mate Eberechi Eze, it feels like a big move is on the horizon for Wharton.
If all goes well for Liverpool’s 21-year-old, he could be the second coming of Gerrard. A strong midfield technician from England who has all the tools to be a mainstay for the Three Lions for years to come.
Achieving his services would require a lot of money, but if Slott can acquire another legend in the process, it’s definitely a bold investment worth making.
