Liverpool has reportedly dangled midfielder Harvey Elliott as trade bait in an attempt to prise Adam Wharton away from Crystal Palace. The proposed swap structure could theoretically shave up to £50 million off the total cost for Liverpool, which is notable given that Palace’s asking price for the 22-year-old has ballooned to a staggering £100 million.

Liverpool’s newly appointed head coach Andoni Iraola appears to have other priorities in midfield, and the club’s interest in Wharton has reportedly cooled.

The numbers behind the Wharton saga

Crystal Palace initially entertained discussions around a £70 million valuation for Wharton during earlier rounds of talks. That figure has since climbed to £100 million.

The Elliott-for-Wharton swap concept had a certain logic to it. Elliott, while talented, has struggled to cement a guaranteed starting role at Anfield. Packaging him into a deal would effectively reduce Liverpool’s cash outlay by a significant margin, potentially saving up to £50 million depending on how the respective player valuations shook out.

Palace remain optimistic about keeping Wharton for at least another season.

Why the deal is fading

The arrival of Andoni Iraola as Liverpool’s new head coach has reshuffled the deck. Wharton does not sit at the top of Iraola’s priorities.

Liverpool is reportedly casting a wider net across midfield targets, exploring multiple options rather than fixating on a single expensive acquisition.

What this means for the Premier League transfer market

For Crystal Palace, the £100 million price tag serves a dual purpose. If someone actually pays it, Palace gets a transformative windfall. If nobody does, Wharton stays put and continues anchoring their midfield.

Harvey Elliott’s situation deserves attention regardless of whether the Wharton deal materializes. If Liverpool were genuinely willing to include him in a swap, that signals something about how the club views his trajectory.