Liverpool aims at £50m midfield target, Slot doubts Elliott s future

Liverpool midfielder Xavi Elliott may seek a transfer to guarantee more playing time.

Liverpool has long been looking for new defensive midfielder players, and eventually they may choose Crystal Palace star Adam Walton. Two years after Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left, the Reds have not found a complete replacement for them, and the latest reports say Walton is still under consideration.

The 21-year-old has been a major transfer target for his outstanding performance at Selhurst Park in the past few months, according to the Mirror.

The midfield vacancy has been a lingering issue since Fabinho moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023. After both Moises Kesedo and Romeo Lavia chose to join Chelsea, Endo was introduced as a short-term solution.

The Red Army also tried to poach Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £50 million, but the bid was rejected, and the issue continued until the Arne Slott era.

Under Slot's leadership, Ryan Gravenberch's transformation was an important factor in bridging the gap, and Alexis Mac Allister's full-scale performance and the team's collective work efficiency and pressure also played an important role. There are also problems with the depth of the midfield. Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones were also sent to fill the gap in the midfield as they were still improving. However, Slot's recent remarks suggest that the former may seek transfers to ensure more playing time.

In an interview with the media before Sunday's game against Chelsea, he said: "Harvey may be one of those players who don't get the playing time. But like some other players, he is competing with many great players, so I mainly chose other players."

Warton, who moved from Blackburn to Crystal Palace in January 2024, performed well in the midfield and was seen as a player who can bring balance and control to the Liverpool midfield.

The English youngster made his first appearance for the Three Lions under the leadership of new coach Thomas Tuchel in March this year. According to the Transfer Market, his net worth has soared to around £30 million. However, according to some reports, Crystal Palace hopes that the transfer fee is close to £50 million.

Wharton seems to fit the positioning of this character and knows clearly what the character needs. “You need to be brave and fearless on the field,” he said recently.

"You have to ask your centre-back to do this, but it means you'll be under more pressure. Your passes have to be more propulsive... You look at the court from another perspective, which naturally affects the way you play."

"I like to pass the ball to the No. 10 player so they can turn around and hit the opponent's defense - which may be more important than scoring a goal or assist."