Xabi Alonso targets £20m-rated Liverpool midfielder as 'Bayer Leverkusen make offer' – Football News

Xabi Alonso targets £20m-rated Liverpool midfielder as 'Bayer Leverkusen make offer'

Xabi Alonso is keen to bolster his Bayer Leverkusen ranks (Image: Getty)

Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly tabled an offer for Liverpool youngster Tyler Morton.

The Reds are yet to bolster their ranks so far this summer, with outgoings viewed as a priority at Anfield. Thus, there have been suggestions that some academy graduates could find themselves on the fringes of Arne Slot’s first team.

However, Liverpool have now been handed a tough transfer decision in midfield.

According to The Times, reigning Bundesliga champions Leverkusen have made an offer to sign Morton on loan for the remainder of the season.

Xabi Alonso, previously linked with succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield over the summer, is said to be a keen admirer of the England Under-21 international and would like to integrate him into his squad as soon as possible.

Liverpool are yet to make a decision yet on whether they would be open to allowing Morton to leave the club given that they are in the market for reinforcements in midfield at present.

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Tyler Morton

Leverkusen are keen to acquire the services of Tyler Morton (Image: Getty)

The 21-year-old featured for the Reds in pre-season but has not been named in the matchday squad for their opening two matches of the Premier League campaign, highlighting that he is below a host of players in the pecking order already.

Morton has enjoyed Championship loans for the past two seasons, spending time with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, and he is keen to continue his ‘upward trajectory’ and develop further.

With opportunities already appearing likely to be hard to come by at his boyhood club, Leverkusen could be the ideal opportunity for Morton to develop further and get some minutes under his belt whilst playing at the very top level. The playmaker is said to be valued by Liverpool at approximately £20million, though it is unclear whether Leverkusen are proposing an option or obligation to buy in the loan deal at this stage.

Arne Slot

Arne Slot is keen for Liverpool to sign a new midfielder (Image: Getty)

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Slot has spoken openly about how he believes his side have a responsibility to allow young players to leave if there is not a clear pathway to first-team football at Anfield. The Reds have already allowed Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark to leave the club in recent weeks.

The former Feyenoord boss explained: “If young players want to develop they have to play. Either you can play minutes or you’re still not there and there is competition for places. We have a lot of young players and Trey Nyoni is playing with us. This club will bring through youngsters all the time. If they want to play somewhere and are not happy with five or six minutes in the Premier League then you have to let them develop somewhere else.”

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1940724/Liverpool-transfer-news-Tyler-Morton-Bayer-Leverkusen-Xabi-Alonso