Pundit Carlton Palmer believes the loan signing of Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton in January could be the difference for Sheffield United in the battle for automatic promotion.
Sheffield United has had a great first half of the season, and they presently sit second in the Championship table, level on points at the top with Leeds United.
The Blades had further good news last week when their long-awaited takeover by US-based consortium COH Sports was finally finalized, and new owners Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy are set to back manager Chris Wilder in the January transfer window.
Wilder will now be able to spend as he attempts to strengthen his team, but he is also expected to fill his two remaining loan spaces, and as FLW exclusively revealed last week, United are stepping up their pursuit of Morton.
Morton has spent the last two seasons on loan in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, but despite reports that a number of clubs were interested in signing the 22-year-old in the summer, he stayed at Anfield, with his reported £20 million price tag likely to have been a deciding factor.
| Tyler Morton’s stats during Blackburn Rovers and Hull City loan spells (as per Transfermarkt) | |||
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 0 | 4 |
| Hull City | 41 | 3 | 5 |
Morton, on the other hand, has only made three appearances for Arne Slot’s side this season, all of which have come in the EFL Cup, and he might be making a temporary switch to Bramall Lane next month.
Carlton Palmer on Sheffield United’s Tyler Morton pursuit
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer urged United to complete a deal for Morton, especially with Ollie Arblaster out for the rest of the season due to injury, and believes the loan signing of the Liverpool midfielder could give the Blades an advantage in the automatic promotion race.
“Sheffield United sit top of the Championship and are going great guns under Chris Wilder, but they are looking to bring in two or three players to the squad in the January transfer window,” Palmer told BBC Sport.
“One of the athletes they are interested in is Tyler Morton.
“Morton has plenty of experience, having spent time on loan at Blackburn and Hull in the Championship.
“After losing Ollie Arblaster for the rest of the season, Sheffield United are looking to sign Morton.”
“He hasn’t had much of a look at Liverpool, so it would be excellent for Sheffield United to get him into the football club and get him playing, and I’m sure Arne Slot would be pleased with that, especially with Sheffield United leading the league.
“Chris Wilder has stated that he has a very, very excellent first XI, but he also has young players on the bench, so he is trying to bring in some additional experience.
“He’s had to deal with injuries; at one point against West Brom, he had six academy players on the pitch.”
“He’s done a fantastic job, and he’s got two loan spots to play with, so to bring in someone of Tyler Morton’s experience and quality at Championship level, that could well be the difference in the race to get automatic promotion.”
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