Liverpool's pursuit of a holding midfielder has taken another twist that not many would have predicted, and that is Real Madrid possibly giving a blow to the club's plans as they eye up Manchester City star Rodri. In an attempt to beef up its midfield, Liverpool has been trying to sign players since it lost the key ball winner, Fabinho, to Saudi Arabia a year ago, but has found this tough to achieve for its major targets.
Last summer, Liverpool showed interest in signing starlets Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, but both players chose Chelsea. Martin Zubimendi had shone bright for the Reds, but he opted to stay at hometown club Real Sociedad. And so, the search now seemingly lands on highly talented England international Adam Wharton.
Adam Wharton, who joined Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers for £22 million in January, has quickly forged an excellent reputation in the Premier League for his adaptability. Those performances saw him selected by England for Euro 2024, although he did not feature in any of their games at the tournament. That did not stop interest in him, though, and Liverpool are reported to be one of his many top-flight suitors.
How Rodri's Move Could Affect Liverpool
That said, Liverpool's move for Wharton could well take a hit if Rodri does end up signing with Real Madrid. In fact, should the Spanish giants manage to land the Manchester City star, this could create a sort of domino effect in the transfer market as multiple teams, including Liverpool, would end up missing out on their target in the process.
It suggests that [Real Madrid's interest in Rodri](https://www.football-espana.net/2024/09/06/real-madrid-rodris-transfer-saga) creates a ripple effect that will have the creme de la creme of European midfielders shifting around. The idea is that teams like Manchester City would then look for replacements, and thus the competition for emerging midfield talent, like Wharton, may increase. This could leave Liverpool on the outside looking in, as has happened time and again this summer with several key players.
Liverpool's Midfield Conundrum
The Anfield side has been facing growing pressure to rebuild its midfield. Following the exit of Fabinho and their failure to sign priority players, Liverpool have markedly less depth and quality compared to the past. They need reinforcements to take on effective competitions in both the Premier League and in Europe.
If they fail to land Wharton or any other target, they stand to face the new season in somewhat precarious situations.
What's Next for Liverpool?
The action could go further at any instance now in the transfer window, in which Liverpool would have to act really fast should there be an actual opportunity of Rodri joining Real Madrid to shake things up in the market.
The question is, of course, now whether Liverpool will sign Wharton despite competition or look elsewhere. Of course, one thing is for sure: the next few weeks are going to be very crucial with regard to the Reds' future in the Premier League.
