Liverpool confirm transfer exit with clever clause to boost Alexander Isak hopes

Liverpool’s busy summer continued on Tuesday evening with the Reds announcing their latest departure less than a fortnight before their first game of the new league season

Tyler Morton has completed a £15m move to Lyon from Liverpool. The England U21 international departs the Reds having come through the academy at the club.

Morton, 22, has been angling for a move away this summer in search of first-team football having had two successful loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull in recent seasons. The Reds have allowed him to leave due to the amount of senior options available with Alexis Mac Allistter, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboslai blocking his path.

They also have other young stars in James McConnell and Luca Stephenson while teenager Trey Nyoni has impressed in pre-season games and is now pushing to be considered a full-time member of the first team. Stefan Bajcetic has also returned from a loan spell away at RB Salzburg and Las Palmas with the Spaniard considered ahead of Morton in the pecking order.

Liverpool have a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal to sell to the Ligue 1 club with the deal rising to £15m if add-ons are triggered. The fee itself, meanwhile, helps increase the Reds’ funds for further transfers.

Summer target Alexander Isak remains a Newcastle player for now, with Liverpool seeing a bid knocked back. They could yet come back in for the striker if Newcastle land Benjamin Sesko, though, with the RB Leipzig man expected to make a decision on his future this week.

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea unveil new signing, Sesko deadline amid new bid, Isak state of playREAD MORE: Liverpool snapped up wonderkid, 16, from under Man Utd’s noses with help of Jurgen Klopp

Morton’s Liverpool exit comes off the back of success with England’s Under-21 side at the European Championships in June. He played in all but one of the Young Lions’ matches, setting up Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time winner in the final.

He barely featured under Arne Slot last season, though, with shoulder surgery limiting his opportunities. The midfielder got a run-out against PSV Eindhoven in Europe and played several domestic cup games, but didn’t earn any Premier League minutes.

Lyon have had a busy summer, but more players have gone out than come in. Two of those departing players have moved to the Premier League, with playmaker Rayan Cherki joining Manchester City in June and goalkeeper Lucas Perri making a more recent switch to Leeds United.

Liverpool, by contrast, have spent more than £200m since winning the Premier League in May. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike joined in big-money moves, with full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong also completing Anfield switches.

The Reds have also cashed in on a number of first-teamers, with the total sum recouped climbing up above £100m even before Morton’s exit. The bulk of that came from Luis Diaz’s move to Bayern Munich, while others to depart include Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher.

Arne Slot’s champions will kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth, with the match taking place on August 15. Lyon’s Ligue 1 campaign kicks off the same weekend with the club travelling to Lens for their opening fixture.

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