While losing Moises Caicedo to Chelsea back in 2023 must have stung Liverpool, seeing what he has gone on to become at Stamford Bridge will surely have left a sour taste.
The Reds were huge fans of Caicedo while he was at Brighton, and broke their transfer policy to table a bid exceeding £100 million for the Ecuadorian, but he chose Chelsea.
They also lost out to Romeo Lavia in the same window, but got one back the following summer when Chelsea lost Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool.
That tit-for-tat relationship saw another chapter unfold just last week, when Chelsea agreed to sign 16-year-old Deinner Ordonez, someone Liverpool had been in talks with.
And the latest transfer tangle involving the two Premier League big-hitters has an update, with Liverpool entering talks for a top target.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty ImagesLiverpool hold talks with Crystal Palace for Adam Wharton amid Chelsea interest
Adam Wharton has emerged as one of the brightest midfield talents in Europe, drawing interest from some of the biggest clubs home and abroad.
Chelsea have discussed a swap for Wharton, sending Trevoh Chalobah back the other way.
Liverpool have long held an interest in the Crystal Palace star, and a report from DAVEOCKOP reveals talks are taking place.
The report states: “Liverpool are holding initial talks to discuss signing Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton in 2026…
“Based on our understanding, this is a move likely for the summer of 2026 rather than in the January window.”
This is a problem for the Blues, as the same outlet previously relayed Wharton’s preference for Anfield. If Liverpool can land on a price, Chelsea may be left out in the cold.
The Blues are also monitoring Elliot Anderson, so maybe they will direct their attention elsewhere.
Should Chelsea sell Enzo Fernandez to buy Elliot Anderson? The race for Adam Wharton is heating up
As well as Chelsea and Liverpool, Man United and Real Madrid are interested in the 21-year-old.
He’s as good as anyone technically and has been key to Palace’s recent success under Oliver Glasner.
Chelsea have plenty of depth, but would not turn down a talent like Wharton, especially considering they have been trying to offload another midfielder — Chelsea offered Lavia to Man United in a swap deal over the summer.
But there will be plenty of competition for his signature, and fending off the likes of Madrid and Liverpool could get expensive.
Whether Chelsea react to this development remains to be seen, but if they are serious about signing Wharton, they may need to step up their pursuit soon.