The next Adam Wharton is already at Liverpool, and he's special

The next Adam Wharton is at Liverpool and he could become a superstar under Andoni Iraola.

Who doesn’t appreciate a midfielder like the Crystal Palace midfielder. He is a joy to watch.

Wharton feels like a player from another time. The low socks, tucked in shirt and the Adidas Predators.

There's also a level of footballing intelligence that sets him apart from everyone else on the pitch. It feels like when he is playing, he is often two or three steps ahead of everyone else.

He embodies the essence of what draws people to the game in the first place.

In many respects, his style brings back memories of a prime Thiago Alcântara. His ability to read the game is outstanding, his first touch is flawless, and his line-breaking passes consistently give his team the upper hand.

The truth is with Iraola's direct style of play, Wharton would be the perfect fit.

Ever since Trent Alexander-Arnold left the club, Liverpool have lacked players who can give them vertical long passes forward. Wharton could easily feel that void.

Right now, there’s arguably no one else in the Premier League who blends the same qualities that Alexander-Arnold offers quite like Wharton does.

But there is a big, big hurdle looming over him.

The Premier League market is just crazy this summer. £120m is how much it cost Manchester City to buy Elliot Anderson.

Wharton would likely cost something similar, and in this window when Liverpool are already going to be spending huge amounts of money on Bradley Barcola, Liverpool simply cannot afford to spend the same amount on Wharton as well.

There are other areas of the squad to address, and at a time when the club's midfield options are well-stocked, it makes sense to provide depth to the defence and the attack first.

Sooner or later, Curtis Jones may be moving on. Alexis Mac Allister's future is uncertain as well. In a couple of years, it's unfeasible to think that both would still be at Anfield.

But for now, even if Jones departs this summer, Liverpool's midfield could cope without a further addition.

Especially, because they might just have a Wharton of their own.

Undoubtedly the best player of pre-season so far has been Trey Nyoni. The 19-year-old created the most chances (3) and won the most tackles (3) out of anyone on the pitch during a brilliant 45-minute display that saw Liverpool score three goals against Sunderland.

Then he completed the most passes (59) and the most passes into the final third (8) against Wrexham in the first-half.

And he did the same against Leeds United in the first-half, he completed the most passes (40) and he also made the most passes into the final third (8).

Nyoni's ability to move the ball quickly and consistently play progressive, line-breaking passes makes him an ideal fit for Andoni Iraola's style of football.

It's also very Wharton esque.

His most recent performance confirmed that he could easily be just as special as the Crystal Palace midfielder.

Coming up against Como in a behind closed doors pre-season game, Nyoni played the full match and stood out with the way he was able to control the middle of the park.

At 19-years-old he plays with so much maturity and he's very much a midfielder of the type we spoke about at the start of this article.

Nyoni reads the game well, and he controls possession. If he can carry his pre-season form into the regular season, Liverpool will have their next Wharton, and a very special player.