Liverpool are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton ahead of the January transfer window, but any hopes of a move appear slim with the Eagles determined to hold onto their rising star.

Reports from Football Insider suggest that Oliver Glasner views Wharton as an integral figure in his squad, and the club is unwilling to consider bids midway through the season. The 20-year-old only signed a long-term deal earlier this year, tying him to Selhurst Park until 2029, leaving Palace in full control of his future.

That contract length not only strengthens Palace’s negotiating position but also means any interested club would have to pay a premium fee to tempt them into selling. For Liverpool, or any other suitor, that makes a January swoop highly improbable.

Wharton’s emergence has not gone unnoticed across Europe, with several elite sides reportedly monitoring his progress. Still, journalist Pete O’Rourke has underlined that Palace’s stance is firm—there will be no mid-season exit.

Speaking on the situation, O’Rourke explained:

“It’s very unlikely Palace will even consider offers for Wharton in January. He’s a hugely talented player and, if he ever became available, it wouldn’t just be Liverpool interested—most of the Premier League’s top clubs and leading European sides would be in the mix.

He’s tied down until 2029, and it would take an enormous fee to get him out. Palace have a track record of being tough negotiators—Liverpool saw that first-hand when their move for Marc Guehi collapsed.

They don’t want to lose Wharton, especially not in January when he’d be almost impossible to replace. Given how tricky it is to complete major deals in that window, I don’t see anything happening.”

For now, Liverpool may have to bide their time, with a summer approach looking far more realistic than a mid-season raid.