Liverpool have reportedly made Adam Wharton their top midfield transfer target for the summer, following lessons learned from England's World Cup failure.
Wharton has impressed for Crystal Palace in recent years and possesses the intelligent, ball-playing qualities that would allow him to dictate the tempo of a game and bring composure to the midfield.
This is precisely the kind of player England lacked at the World Cup, as Argentina exposed in their semi-final clash, with a lack of control and composure in the middle of the park.
Liverpool are now focusing on Wharton as a priority, having decided against signing Joao Gomes from Wolves, and some might see this as a surprising move given Wharton's limited international experience.
However, England has a history of overlooking players like Wharton, who are valued assets to their club sides but never quite nail down a place in the national team.
Liverpool's move could also have a positive impact on Wharton's chances of breaking into the England squad, as a big transfer could increase his profile and give him more opportunities to impress.
Wharton has been a key player for Crystal Palace, helping them to recent successes in the FA Cup and Europa Conference League, and he could have made a significant difference for England against Argentina.
