Blow for Tottenham as Adam Wharton wants to stay at Crystal Palace this season and join Liverpool in 2026

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 4:43 PM ET

Tottenham have suffered a setback in their pursuit of highly-rated Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton

Tottenham Hotspur are embarking on a new era under Thomas Frank, as they look to build on the Europa League victory last season and take the team to the next level.

Spurs have done well to secure the signings of Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus so far this summer. They have also triggered the £60m release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White’s contract at Nottingham Forest. However, the deal is on a standstill after Nottingham Forest made a formal complaint against the Lilywhites over illegal approach of the English playmaker without their permission.

In addition to Gibbs-White, Tottenham remain open to signing a central midfielder who can sit deep and control the tempo of play. This has been evidenced by the North London club’s interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

At just 21, Adam Wharton has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising midfield talents thanks to his technical quality, game-reading sense and potential. He has performed extremely well for Crystal Palace since joining from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024, becoming a regular in their engine room.

Thus, it is not surprising that Palace are in no mood to let the one-cap England international leave and are asking around £100million this summer. Plus, there is another obstacle for Tottenham to overcome.

Adam Wharton keen on Liverpool move next year

According to an exclusive report from The Sun, Adam Wharton is willing to stay put at Crystal Palace this season, which would make Liverpool the favourites to sign him in 2026. The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, who would also prefer to wait after spending big to reinforce their squad in this transfer window.

The Eagles are eager not to lose Wharton this year, especially given that Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could depart before the transfer window slams shut. The young midfielder’s stock has not plummeted, despite him missing a significant part of last season due to groin surgery. He managed to regain full fitness during the business end of 2024/25 campaign and played a key role in the South London side’s FA Cup triumph.

Big blow for Tottenham?

Indeed! The 21-year-old preferring to stay put at Selhurst Park and open the door for a potential move to Liverpool in 2026 is a big setback for Tottenham. Given Wharton’s age, potential, domestic status and exposure in the top-flight, he fits the profile of the North Londoners’ strategy of investing and nurturing young players.

Spurs may have felt that the time is right to bring him in, but Palace’s hefty asking price has scared them off. Now, the player deciding to be at Palace and earn another year of experience with them has indirectly handed Liverpool the advantage to sign him next summer, providing a significant blow to Tottenham’s hopes in the process. However, Daniel Levy and Co. must not lose hope and back Thomas Frank to the hilt to help him build a squad that achieves success this season and tempts Wharton to join the Dane’s project rather than heading to Anfield.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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