Report: Lyon in talks with Liverpool over €9m-rated midfielder transfer | OneFootball

Lyon Eye Liverpool’s Tyler Morton – But Transfer Talks Stall

Olympique Lyonnais’ pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton is gaining traction, but negotiations between the two clubs remain tense. As L’Équipe reports, Lyon have already reached personal terms with Morton, but Liverpool’s asking price of €9 million, excluding bonuses, is proving a stumbling block.

Morton Impresses on Loan and International Duty

Morton, 22, comes off a standout 2023/24 season at Hull City, where he made 39 appearances in the Championship, netting 3 goals and providing 5 assists. Despite his impressive performances, his senior opportunities at Liverpool have been limited — just 10 appearances last season, none of which came in the Premier League. The majority of his game time was with the U21s, where he managed 3 goals and 1 assist in 5 matches.

Photo: IMAGO

He’s recently caught the eye at international level too, playing a role in England’s victorious U21 European Championship campaign. That success, coupled with his Championship form, has put him firmly on Lyon’s radar.

Liverpool Hold Firm on Valuation

While Lyon are keen to secure the services of the Birkenhead-born midfielder, the €9 million fee demanded by Liverpool is currently viewed as excessive by the French club. Talks are ongoing, but according to L’Équipe, “negotiations are not progressing at the moment”.

Morton is still part of Liverpool’s pre-season squad, having featured off the bench in a friendly against AC Milan during their Southeast Asia tour. That suggests Liverpool are open to giving him further exposure before making a final decision on his future.

Lyon’s Midfield Rebuild Underway

Lyon’s interest in Morton reflects their ambition to reshape their midfield under new leadership. Securing a player with Morton’s profile – technically gifted, tactically disciplined, and coming off the back of a breakout campaign – would be a statement move. Yet, unless Liverpool adjust their valuation or Lyon increase their offer, a deal may remain out of reach.

As L’Équipe reports, “Talks are not easy, but they are continuing with the English club in an attempt to attract the England U21 international.”

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this story presents a familiar scenario. Another talented academy graduate, fresh from a strong loan spell, faces the crossroads between breaking into the first team or moving on for regular football.

Tyler Morton has long been held in high regard at Anfield. His performances at Hull showed he can dictate play from deep, while his England U21 exploits reinforced his potential. However, with Liverpool’s midfield now brimming with depth – including Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones – Morton’s path to regular senior minutes looks blocked.

€9 million might seem steep to Lyon, but for Liverpool, it reflects the player’s upward trajectory, age, and international pedigree. Fans would be disappointed to lose him permanently, especially with no Premier League minutes yet to his name for the Reds. Ideally, supporters would favour another loan – perhaps even within the Premier League – to test Morton at the top level.

That said, Lyon is a club with a strong developmental history, and if the player wants the move, most fans would wish him well. What’s crucial is ensuring Liverpool extract fair value – either financially or via a smart buy-back clause. Letting Morton go for less than he’s worth, especially in this inflated market, would feel like poor business.

Ultimately, this saga reflects the difficulty in managing elite talent within a squad overflowing with competition.