Arne Slot and Liverpool about to learn transfer truth as key summer target travels to Anfield

The Reds are firming up summer plans, with replacing Mohamed Salah a key target. After that, Liverpool is a known admirer of one Premier League star who set to play at Anfield this weekend

Adam Wharton will face Liverpool on Saturday amid the Reds' transfer interest in the player

Arne Slot will spend the majority of his Saturday afternoon prowling the Liverpool technical area, surveying the contest in front of him.

As always, he will be assessing the opposition: how to exploit its deficiencies and how best to stymie its strengths. But this weekend, there will be an added layer of intrigue for Slot as Crystal Palace takes to the field.

He will not be the first manager to cast an anxious and admiring eye over Oliver Glasner’s charges, but given the firm transfer interest in one of Palace’s star names, Slot’s assessment of Saturday’s game carries greater significance. This is Adam Wharton’s greatest stage to impress.

In truth, even if the England international has a stinker at Anfield, Slot and Liverpool have compiled enough evidence to fervently believe that Wharton would enhance a midfield unit that 12 months ago won the Premier League title.

This season has been a different story, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister — Slot’s primary options at the base of midfield — seeing their standards drop significantly.

Wharton is the opposite, a midfielder whose star is very much on the rise. It’s no wonder he has attracted such interest from across the league, and Liverpool has identified him as one of the key summer targets, along with a replacement for Mohamed Salah in the wide areas.

The Reds aren’t alone, of course, and between Wharton and Elliott Anderson, two of Thomas Tuchel’s burgeoning talents are expected to complete big-money moves this summer.

Wharton has enjoyed another superb season for Palace(Image: Getty Images)

That Manchester City prefers Anderson should be seen as a boost, even if prising him from the City Ground could cost Pep Guardiola’s side an exorbitant fee, one that could ultimately prove too high.

But should the ex-Newcastle star end up at the Etihad, it may leave United and Liverpool to battle for Wharton’s signature. The Red Devils also admire Carlos Baleba, and reports have been linked with a plethora of midfielders heading into the summer market, including Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni.

Wharton is certainly among them after another excellent campaign at Palace. The 22-year-old has made 44 appearances in a season of extremes at Selhurst Park that could still end with European glory.

Wharton’s combination of midfield control, an ability to operate at a higher tempo, and his work out of possession have all impressed. His creativity has also shone. The former Blackburn star has managed 0.21 assists per 90 this season, more than any of Liverpool’s midfielders.

Slot will be watching Wharton with intrigue this weekend(Image: Getty Images)

He also outperforms his Liverpool counterparts in terms of big chances created and possession won in the final third this season. Wharton’s defensive numbers — tackles and recoveries — also outstrip those of Gravenberch and Mac Allister, his direct competitors.

If there are still doubts about Wharton’s suitability, the numbers offer a clear rebuttal. Liverpool’s requirements for more homegrown players make him an even more attractive proposition.

That will all feed into Slot’s thinking as he watches from the sidelines at Anfield. His immediate thoughts will be about stopping him, but could they soon turn to how best to utilize him?

Watching players up close has influenced the Dutchman before, as evidenced by his repeated references to Alexander Isak’s Carabao Cup final performance last season.

A performance of similar quality from Wharton on Saturday would only reinforce Liverpool’s belief that he is worth a significant investment - and could yet shape the club’s summer transfer plans.