Liverpool reject first offer for 'press-resistant' midfielder - but talks are ongoing
After enjoying a successful loan spell in the Championship last season, interest is high in Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton this summer.
The deep-lying midfielder made 41 appearances in all competitions for Hull City, scoring three goals and registering five assists as the Humberside team ultimately failed in their late push to finish in the play-off places.
The Times recently reported that the 21-year-old's form last season had attracted suitors from across the continent, including Sevilla, Feyenoord and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Now, German side RB Leipzig are seemingly at the front of the queue.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, "concrete talks" have taken place between the two clubs, and Morton himself appears open to the idea of joining the Bundesliga side.
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Leipzig's opening offer for Morton rejected
Plettenberg also revealed that Leipzig initially proposed a loan deal with an option to buy. However, this opening offer was promptly rejected.
While the Reds are open to a temporary move for Morton, their current hesitation to sanction a deal centres on the terms of the loan.
After impressing last season, the Reds are unlikely to want to agree to let Morton go on a permanent deal. However, bearing in mind what happened to his teammate Fabio Carvalho when he joined Leipzig last year and had to terminate his loan halfway through, the Reds will want to find an opportunity that grants him sufficient game time to progress his development.
That said, Plettenberg emphasises that Leipzig's interest in Morton is longstanding, and they are determined to secure his services this summer.
Press resistant
It should come as no surprise that European heavyweights are hoping to take advantage of the uncertainty around Morton's place at Liverpool.
In the aforementioned Times article, Paul Joyce cites data from the CIES Football Observatory which found that there were only two players younger than him in the world’s top 28 leagues who perform better for 'press resistance'.
Morton's ball retention under high pressure stood at 86.9 per cent, bettered only by Barcelona’s Gavi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery, who both had 87.1 per cent.
It should therefore come as no surprise that teams from across Europe are circling.
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