Tyler Morton joined Lyon in a permanent transfer after 15 years with Liverpool, and a factor in the club’s decision-making reportedly included Stefan Bajcetic.
Morton was officially unveiled by Lyon on Tuesday, bringing an end to his career at his boyhood club after 14 senior appearances.
This Is Anifeld understands Liverpool negotiated a 20 percent sell-on clause in the deal, which is worth £15 million, with Morton signing a five-year contract with the French club.
His exit comes after a season predominantly watching from the sidelines and the desire to play regular senior football, which he last experienced on loan at Hull in the 2023/24 season.
But a factor in Liverpool’s decision to rubber-stamp Morton’s exit was Bajcetic, according to the Mail‘s Dominic King on X, who still has close contacts at Liverpool despite a switch to racing.
PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool substitute Stefan Bajcetic during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
King claims “a factor why Morton was allowed to move was due to his similarities to Stefan Bajcetic,” who “may” return from injury by the end of August.
Bajcetic spent last season on loan, first with Salzburg and later with Las Palmas, before undergoing hamstring surgery, which has yet to see him return to first-team training.
Morton (22) and Bajcetic (20) are both academy graduates who would be vying for a position in an already well-stacked midfield as the younger cover to the more experienced figureheads.
With Trey Nyoni now deemed a full-time member of the first team, Liverpool simply could not offer adequate chances to players of a similar profile in Morton and Bajcetic.
Both are capable of running the game from the deep-lying role but are just as adept at providing centre-back cover or pushing higher into midfield.
Though Morton is the more experienced of the pair, with 101 senior club games in comparison to Bajcetic’s 55.
Bajcetic has been the subject of reports that Valencia, Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano are all interested in a transfer, but his injury always suggested a decision on his future would be made late in the summer.
If anything, King’s claim suggests it will only be another loan move for the Spaniard if Liverpool decide he does not have a role to play at Anfield this season.