Arne Slot faces $25m Liverpool transfer decision over 'outstanding' Jurgen Klopp prospect

Liverpool's new boss Arne Slot has not had much by way of instruction from Jurgen Klopp. But he risks ignoring the one piece of advice he was given as he looks to navigate an upcoming transfer decision.

Before the identity of his successor was confirmed, Klopp urged the next holder of the position not to forget about the excellent young talent already at the club. That came in the wake of the League Cup triumph, where Conor Bradley excelled, and the likes of Jayden Danns and James McConnell came off the bench to make positive contributions.

When the players report back for duty on July 1, Slot will have an even broader group to assess. A small army of loan players will be returning to Liverpool, and he would do well not to overlook them either.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Adrien Rabiot 'contact', Xavi Simons hint, Nico Williams responds

READ MORE: Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh 'agrees personal terms' as agent provides transfer update

There's Sepp van den Berg, who excelled in the Bundesliga last season with Mainz, and who could yet save the club a fortune in defense — although he seems as though he would prefer to leave in search of continued regular minutes. But Slot might also have a ready-made solution in his midfield.

Tyler Morton has already featured in the Liverpool first team nine times, with Klopp a big fan of the midfielder. He's not been seen in red for a while, though, having spent the last two campaigns out on Championship loans.

He made himself a mainstay at Blackburn Rovers in 2022/23, alongside Adam Wharton, before again cementing a starting spot with Hull City last season. The Times reports that 'virtually every club in the Championship' would be keen on taking Morton on loan for the new campaign.

More intriguingly, RB Leipzig is showing significant interest in a permanent deal. Sevilla and Eintracht Frankfurt are also on the scene, as are 'some in the Premier League' and Slot's old side, Feyenoord.

For his part, Morton would 'ideally' continue his development. Liverpool values him at $25m (£20m/€24m) — but the midfielder will report for pre-season under Slot, and could presumably play his way into the coach's plans.

Still just 21, he is nonetheless a less raw prospect than the one Klopp saw fit to throw into the action on numerous occasions. Liverpool's long-time manager was full of praise for Morton after he starred against Preston in the EFL Cup in 2021/22:

“You can see Tyler Morton,” he said. “We have to send him to the gym as if he gets a body, he's a brilliant footballer. There are some things to come physique wise, but the football brain is outstanding.”

Morton has indeed developed physically in the two-and-a-half years since, and the brain has not diminished. Slot may well have a decision to make.

Liverpool.com says: If nothing else, Morton's loans have given Liverpool a far more sellable asset. The asking price seems pretty realistic.

But it doesn't want to make a sale it comes to regret. The Times report notes figures from CIES showing that Morton is among the most press-resistant midfielders for his age in all of European football, a hugely useful skill at the top level of the game.

Is he a number six? That's where Klopp played him, but he's also featured further forward while out on loan. If Slot decides he can play that role at the elite level required, it could solve a real problem for him.