Liverpool are accelerating a move to sign the £70m star behind Munoz

Andoni Iraola’s arrival as Liverpool manager has injected a new sense of hope into fans ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

The Spaniard penned a two-year contract at Anfield with a third option, then moved to Merseyside after rejecting a new deal at Bournemouth.

His heavy-metal-front-foot attacking system is no doubt a leading factor in his selection, after the likes of Mohamed Salah criticized former manager Arne Slot for his tactics in recent months.

As a result, there has been a huge boost in the Reds’ efforts to secure a host of new attacking options for Iraola in his first campaign in charge. Yan Diomande was the focus of attention when a shock deal to hijack Newcastle’s move for Spanish midfielder Victor Munoz was largely agreed on Wednesday night.

However, other areas of the pitch will also be strengthened, with midfield being one of the club’s recruitment plans ahead of the summer window.

Liverpool are pushing ahead with a deal to sign the £70m talent this summer

After his stunning World Cup performance against Brazil last week, Lille star Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged as Liverpool’s biggest transfer target this summer.

In recent days it has been reported that the Reds have already held talks with the representatives of the 18-year-old player about moving to Anfield in the near future.

However, a major transfer battle could be on the cards, with current Premier League champions Arsenal said to be keen on the Moroccan international.

Bouaddi is not the only midfielder currently being looked at by the club, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton also on their radar.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are said to have stepped up their efforts and moved forward with a move to sign the 22-year-old Englishman in the past few days.

The report also states that the player is said to be willing to work under Iraola, which could give the Reds a big boost in their pursuit of his signature.

However, any deal would be an expensive one for the management, with the Eagles said to be seeking at least £70m to offload their key man in this window. Thankfully, the Reds are confident they can come to terms with Palace before too long.

Why Wharton would be better than Liverpool’s Bouaddi

In the 2024/25 title-winning campaign, the midfield duo of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have often been integral to their success.

However, the former duo is said to be on Real Madrid’s radar this summer, with the latter unable to recapture his impressive performances from last year.

Curtis Jones is another current Reds midfielder who could leave this window, with Inter Milan circling and preparing a move for the Englishman in the near future.

As a result, a new midfielder is likely to be needed this summer, which has no doubt seen the intensity of rumors emanating from Merseyside increase in recent weeks.

Bouaddi is one of the more surprising names on their shortlist, with very few supporters knowing much about the youngster before his impressive World Cup display last week.

However, Wharton is a player that fans have often witnessed in recent seasons, and the youngster has significant Premier League experience under his belt.

Comparing his stats with the Lille youth from 2025/26, the Eagles star has been able to dominate in a number of key areas – again highlighting why he could be better this window.

Wharton, dubbed “world class” by Statman Dave, managed to create an impressive 1.6 in 90 chances in England’s top flight during the recent campaign.

The aforementioned figure puts him in the top 15% of all players in Europe – not to mention twice as high as the figure produced by his colleague, Bouaddi.

His 61% dribble success rate in the Premier League is also higher than the number produced by the Moroccan in Ligue 1 – reaffirming his dominance with the ball at his feet.

However, off the ball, Wharton also managed to get the upper hand over Bouaddi, after which he made more tackles and 90 possessions.

The England international’s 10.8 defensive contributions per 90 are twice as high as the Lille star – making him Liverpool’s best option this summer.

£70m would be another statement of intent from the Reds’ management this window, but it’s a move that could secure a top-class operator at the heart of the side for years to come.

His reign over the World Cup star is there for all to see, and his experience in the Premier League is also seen as crucial to any potential transfer this summer.