Liverpool's midfielder Tyler Morton is drawing significant interest in the transfer window, yet the club has already turned down the initial bid for their number 80.
Morton is sought after by several clubs within England and internationally this summer, with Liverpool placing his value at £20 million. RB Leipzig is currently leading the chase, but they are not alone; Feyenoord, Sevilla, Eintracht Frankfurt, Atalanta, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Ipswich are also keen. Leipzig has reportedly made a move for the 21-year-old, which Liverpool has declined.
According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, "concrete talks took place," with Leipzig advocating for a loan with an option to purchase. However, Liverpool is "not interested in this loan structure," hinting at a disagreement regarding the purchase option. It's uncertain whether this is because the club wants a mandatory buy clause, a fixed fee nearer to their valuation, or a direct loan.
Nonetheless, Leipzig remains "still interested" in Morton, and the midfielder "can really imagine" making the switch, suggesting that an agreement might be reached eventually. This is in spite of Fabio Carvalho's challenging loan period at Leipzig last season, which saw the Portuguese player fall out of favor and return to Merseyside in January.
He then joined Morton on loan at Hull, where both played pivotal roles in their unsuccessful bid for promotion. Carvalho's stint at Leipzig does not seem to deter Morton, though it may have influenced Liverpool's decision to refuse Leipzig's initial offer for their midfielder.
The relationship between the Reds' decision-makers and the Red Bull group has been reinforced by the return of Michael Edwards and Julian Ward, who now occupy positions within the Fenway Sports Group. Sporting director Richard Hughes also has established connections with clubs such as Bournemouth, Atalanta, and Feyenoord.
The focus is on securing a deal that benefits both Liverpool and Tyler Morton, especially if it involves a loan with the intention for him to return to Arne Slot's first-team squad. Should a sale occur, the aim is to negotiate terms close to their £20 million valuation, and Leipzig is known for investing heavily in young talent, as evidenced by their previous acquisitions of Ilaix Moriba from Barcelona for up to €22 million and El Chadaille Bitshiabu from Paris Saint-Germain for approximately €20 million, both at the age of 18.
