Liverpool have been told that former academy star Tyler Morton is now worth three times what the club sold him for last summer.
The 23-year-old has proved to be a real surprise in his first season at Lyon, qualifying for his first call-up to the England senior team.
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Morton ended his 15-year spell at Liverpool by joining Ligue 1 in a deal worth around £15m after winning the European Under-21 Championship.
It appeared he would leave Anfield the year before after impressing under current Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior on loan at Hull City in 2023/24.
Xabi Alonso was keen to unite Morton with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong after Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph.
However, Arne Slot blocked the midfielder’s departure shortly after his appointment to Liverpool as he was unable to sign Martin Zubimendi.
Yet he didn’t play a single minute in the Premier League during the club’s title win last year and only made five appearances across all competitions.
More than half a season after moving to Lyon, European football expert Andy Brassell believes Morton is now worth three times his money.
He told The Pitch Prospect.com exclusively: “They lost.” [Alexandre] Lacazette, you lost [Rayan] Cherki, they lost [Georges] Mikautadze last summer, but they were able to win games, especially at the start of the season, because they have a lot of players who are good on the ball.
“Tyler Morton was actually a big part of that because he was someone who got it done [Lyon manager Paulo] Fonseca said: “We absolutely have to get him.”
“He’s a player I can particularly use. I think he can fill that role and when it comes to keeping the ball moving in the attacking half of the pitch and taking the edge off the game when they’re not attacking, Morton has been exceptional.”
“Liverpool sold him for £15 million, he must be worth three times that now, he has been so, so good this season.”
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Slots Liverpool predecessor Jürgen Klopp had described Morton as “brilliant”, while Thiago Alcantara also tipped him to reach the top.
The Merseyside-born star is now fulfilling his potential at Lyon after playing over 2,300 minutes in 30 appearances this season.
Morton has scored two goals and as many assists in 19 Ligue 1 games, while also appearing in all eight of the club’s Europa League games.
Morton was inspired by Scott’s stint in England
Despite his form, the defensive midfielder is an outsider to make England’s World Cup squad at odds of 66/1 at The Pitch Prospect Bet.
But Morton was inspired by his former England Under-21 teammate Alex Scott to attract the attention of Thomas Tuchel, who did just that in November after his breakthrough at Bournemouth.
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“A place in the England squad for the World Cup? It’s not something I obsess about on a daily basis, but it is a goal to play for my country,” Morton said in a press conference last week.
“We won the European Championships with the under-21 team and it was incredible, so playing for the first team would be incredible.”
He added: “I think about the present and know it will come if I focus on playing at my best level.”
“Alex Scott is a player I have been close with and seeing his call up gives me a lot of confidence for the future.
“It would be incredible for my family and I if it happened. But for that I have to keep working and improving.”
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Tyler Morton stats
In Ligue 1 this season, Morton leads Lyon midfielders with the most successful passes (868), ball touches (1287), distance covered (221.22 km), minutes played (1677), most tackles (21) and interceptions (14).
Brassell previously cited Adam Wharton as a potential stumbling block to Morton’s entry into the England team.
“They are not the same players but they have a lot in common,” he added to The Pitch Prospect.com last month.
“It’s difficult to imagine both of them on the same team. In the medium term, that’s definitely possible. Maybe something will change after this season.”
“I guess we’ll have to see where Morton and Wharton go next.”
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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish told The Pitch Prospect last year that Wharton had ambitions to play for a Champions League club.
Manchester United have him on a three-man list of midfielders, with figures quoted ranging between £60m and £80m.
Brassell continued: “It is no exaggeration to say that Adam Wharton will cost four times as much as Tyler Morton if both players move next summer.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. If Lyon were to sell Tyler Morton for £25m next summer it would be a 150 per cent gain.”
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“That would be pretty good. Obviously Lyon is in a vulnerable financial situation…
“I would like to see it be a Champions League club if Morton goes somewhere next season.”
“If Lyon qualified for the Champions League I would like him to stay there and be an important part of a team trying to get into the Champions League.”
“I think if Morton can move up a level next season, whether that’s by getting Lyon into the Champions League or by moving to a slightly better team in a slightly better league, and Morton can make his move into a big player, then maybe that’s the point where he can take advantage of it.