January promises to be a month of turmoil for Middlesbrough, who are still unsure what the future holds for Ben Doak, despite Premier League interest in the Liverpool loanee.
To some extent, Boro have no control over the situation, since there is little they can do to prevent the Reds from selling if they want to, with Crystal Palace having previously made one bid that Liverpool turned down.
Arne Slot’s side is believed to be asking for £25 million for the Scottish star, so if the South London club meets their demands, Boro would face the prospect of losing one of their standout players this season.
Boro have to worry about more than just Palace; Ipswich Town are said to have had an offer rejected, and Fulham and Brentford are also interested, so Michael Carrick’s side would prefer to resolve the problem as quickly as possible so they can focus on their own recruitment.
Middlesbrough will almost probably have a backup plan in place, but they might also urge Liverpool to soften the impact by sending another of their talented young players.
Middlesbrough could ask Liverpool to sign Tyler Morton.
Tyler Morton has become a fixture in the Championship over the last few seasons, with loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull City.
| Tyler Morton Championship stats (Transfermarkt) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 79 | 3 | 7 |
After a prospective summer move to Bayer Leverkusen to team up with Anfield veteran Xabi Alonso fell through, Morton has been left out in the cold on Merseyside, playing only a minor role for the Reds this season.
It’s possible that a Manchester United great will coach him in January, as Morton appears to be the type of player who could certainly enhance Middlesbrough while also providing stiff competition for midfield positions.
Boro don’t have many natural holding midfield alternatives behind Hayden Hackney and Dan Barlaser, so it could be a problem area Carrick can fill if he asks Liverpool to soften the potential impact of losing Doak.
If they do pursue a prospective transfer, they will face heavy competition, as Boro’s promotion rivals Sheffield United are also said to be interested in signing Morton in January.
Any potential trade could be stymied by the fact that Morton is still waiting for Liverpool to give him permission to go, although following the aborted summer move, it appears doubtful the Reds will block him again.
Middlesbrough’s reputation for loan players gives them an advantage against Sheffield United.
While a cursory look at the league table would lead you to believe Sheffield United is a better fit for Morton, Liverpool will want to put him where he has the most opportunity of developing as a player, which is probably certainly at the Riverside.
Since taking over at Teesside, Carrick has developed several young players into Premier League stars, including Aaron Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, and Cameron Archer, who all moved to the Premier League as a result of Boro’s success.
Emmanuel Latte Lath and Doak are the newest two off the production line set to play in the Premier League, and Liverpool will undoubtedly consider that when selecting where Morton will go.
Boro should surely press their claim to sign the outstanding midfielder, and if Liverpool decides to sell Doak, passing Morton over to Boro appears to be a respectful gesture that benefits all sides.
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