Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has come to an end after Palace manager Pierre Sage confirmed the 22-year-old will remain at Selhurst Park this summer.

Speaking through quotes relayed by transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano on X, Sage was unequivocal: "It's not the moment" for Wharton to leave the club. "Adam can play at a big club but I think one year with us, one year with a new dynamic, will be good for him and we need him," the Palace boss added.

A quiet summer at Anfield

Liverpool have had a relatively subdued transfer window following a record-breaking outlay of over £400 million last summer. So far, only Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet have arrived on permanent deals under new manager Andoni Iraola.

The club also parted ways with academy product Curtis Jones, further thinning their squad options in midfield. A report by CaughtOffside had suggested Liverpool were pursuing an ambitious move for Wharton as a replacement for the departed Jones, who, like Wharton, is an England international.

Iraola, speaking to former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher in a Sky Sports interview, acknowledged the squad remains stretched. "We are still quite thin," the former Bournemouth manager said, promising that reinforcements will arrive before the window closes on September 1. "Some deals you have to wait until the end," he added.

Wharton's value soaring after Conference League heroics

Wharton joined Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024, having come through the ranks at his hometown club and established himself as a regular in the Championship. He has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League since, culminating in a Man of the Match display in Palace's Conference League final last season.

The central midfielder has attracted interest from Liverpool and both Manchester clubs this summer. FourFourTwo understands that Palace regard Wharton as effectively unsellable at this stage, with his price tag expected to reach £100 million when he does eventually move on. Transfermarkt currently values him at €70 million.

Liverpool's attention now turns to the Premier League, with the Reds set to face Newcastle United when the new season gets underway this weekend.