Whilst looking into Liverpool’s midfield options, many seem to be forgetting to put 20-year-old Tyler Morton into consideration for the upcoming season.
The youngster has always been highly rated by Jurgen Klopp and is returning to the club this summer after a successful loan spell at Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.
However, the question remains whether the youngster has a future at the club both in the short-term and long-term plans of Klopp’s midfield.
Today we’re going to look at whether Morton should remain at the club, leave on loan to gain more experience or leave the club permanently.
Who is Tyler Morton?
Morton is naturally a deep-lying midfielder, with lots of quality on the ball but perhaps lacks the physicality needed to play as a defensive midfielder for Liverpool.
The youngster has made nine first-team appearances for the Reds, as well as 65 appearances in the academy on Merseyside.
The 20-year-old was a crucial player for Blackburn Rovers last season, making 46 appearances in all competitions last season before having his season cut short due to a foot injury.
Morton made his Premier League debut for the Reds in 2021 in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, where a large amount of Klopp’s first-team players were missing through COVID.
Where would Morton fit into Klopp’s plans?
This is the main issue surrounding Tyler Morton at the moment, with Jurgen Klopp suddenly having a wealth of options available to him in the midfield.
If all were fit, Klopp would have to choose between:
- Defensive midfield- Fabinho, Stefan Bajcetic, Tyler Morton
- Central midfield- Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson
- Attacking midfield- Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott
It’s also important to note that Liverpool are expected to make a move for 19-year-old Southampton midfielder, Romeo Lavia in this window.
Morton is not only potentially the least experienced out of those options, but is also arguably a step down in terms of quality.
Possible solutions:
One possible solution for Tyler Morton would be to remain patient and look to get game time in the cup competitions and the Europa League.
However, with the incredible performances of Stefan Bajcetic last season that could prove to be easier said than done for the youngster.
Perhaps the most likely solution for the 20-year-old would be to secure another loan spell away from the club to a side expected to be at the top of the EFL Championship next season.
For example, clubs like Leeds United, Southampton, Sunderland or Middlesbrough would be an ideal match for Morton to prove his quality and even potentially win promotion with one of the club.
Alternatively, Morton could secure a permanent move to one of those clubs with his transfer value expected to be around £10million.
Liverpool will likely look to receive some money to make up for some of the incomings at the club this summer, with Tyler Morton being one of the players potentially up for sale along with the likes of Nathaniel Phillips and Caoimhin Kelleher.
Perhaps a smart piece of business that Liverpool could look to do would be to use Tyler Morton in a player-plus-cash deal for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
Rather than paying £50 million upfront, something like £30 million plus Tyler Morton could be a smarter piece of business for the Reds.
Ultimately, Morton is a fine footballer and deserves to be playing regular football. Therefore, I find it hard to see the 20-year-old being part of Liverpool’s squad at the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
I would personally lean more towards a loan move for the youngster, with the midfielder undoubtedly holding a lot of potential.
