Liverpool could look to take advantage of a rumoured agreement between Crystal Palace and midfielder Adam Wharton that he can leave for a modest fee, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Merseysiders' will finally lift the Premier League title on Sunday at Anfield when they play Crystal Palace in their final match of the 2024-25 season.
Palace won the FA Cup last Saturday when they beat Manchester City at Wembley, with the midfielder playing a starring role for the Eagles.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch talked of an agreement between Palace and Wharton that would ensure he is able to leave for a reasonable price, saying: "I know he was liked by Liverpool when he was at Blackburn. They were in the mix and considered it before he moved to Crystal Palace. Everything they will have seen of him since in the Crystal Palace shirt will not have put them off.
"I saw reports recently that said £60m, £70m would bring Palace to the table. I believe there may even be a gentleman's agreement between the player and Palace around that figure - that surprises me. I think he is worth a lot more. If he is available for that, and Liverpool do definitely want to add him to that position, then what a signing he would be.
"He is fantastic - I would like to think they would be in the mix if the player was to come on the market. As I say, I know they have liked him a long time, but whether that turns into anything, we will have to see."
Wharton is set to miss his side's clash against Liverpool due to concussion, but his absence will not put off boss Arne Slot considering the Englishman has performed excellently in midfield all season.
What type of game should fans expect?
Considering Liverpool have won the title and Palace have won the FA Cup, supporters of both clubs have speculated that neither side will take Sunday's game as seriously as they would have earlier in the campaign.
Slot has shown a willingness to rotate his XI in recent weeks, bringing the likes of Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa into the starting lineup against Brighton & Hove Albion last Monday.
Lynch expressed his belief that neither team will be at their best given both will be in celebratory mood, when he told Sports Mole: "I do not think we are going to see the best possible version of both sides. It is going to be absolutely chaos in the stands. Those Palace fans who get down there will be overjoyed celebrating their success that they had, which is fantastic to see.
"It is going to be one big celebration. In terms of what is on the pitch, it is very hard to predict. I had a friend who backed 3-3 in the game against Brighton, so he had an idea that we are going to see something similar to that - two teams who might not throw their bodies on the line to stop goals and are playing open football and are having a crack at each other."
Palace managed to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 on Tuesday, while 19 goals have been scored in Liverpool's last four matches, so perhaps Sunday will see numerous chances created for both sides.
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What does lifting the title mean to fans?
Liverpool fans will be able to celebrate the team lifting the Premier League trophy inside Anfield for the first time in the competition's history, as while the Reds won the league in 2019-20, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic meant no supporters were allowed inside Anfield when the title was lifted.
Considering everyone connected to the team were denied the chance to celebrate the league win in 2019-20 under Jurgen Klopp, it would not be surprising if fans' celebrations were charged with emotion.
Lynch insisted that Sunday will be one of the most historic moments in Liverpool's modern history, telling Sports Mole: "It is going to be special and emotional. It has been 35 years of people dreaming of this moment. I know personally I thought about what it would be like walking up to Anfield on that sunny day and knowing that this is going to come, that they are going to lift the title and the trophy is going up.
"There is going to be tears shed in the stands, but also a lot of partying and enjoying it. Everybody should soak it up because they have had so many near misses, missing out by a point, missing out to Manchester United a few years back, missing out to City so many times - so many years where they have gone close and finished second.
"It felt like it was never going to come at one point and then it did come and then it was awful because of COVID. Then you lose Jurgen Klopp and you think the City juggernaut is going to keep rolling, Arsenal are there again, Liverpool are resetting under a new manager. I just did not think it was going to be this year and now it is here, and you've had four games to soak it up."
Few thought that Slot would be able to beat City and Arsenal to the title, but his success this season has helped Reds' fans to move on seamlessly from the Klopp era.
Lewis Nolan
