Exclusive: Celtic Join £15m Race for Liverpool Starlet Tyler Morton

Celtic have joined the race to sign Liverpool wonderkid Tyler Morton for £15million, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The 22-year-old midfielder starred for England as they made a successful defence of their under-21 European Championship crown last weekend.

And with first-team opportunities limited at Liverpool, especially following the arrival of big-money summer signing Florian Wirtz, Morton knows he will have to leave to get regular football.

The defensive-minded midfielder signed a long-term deal with the club in January 2021 but has played just twice for in the Premier League since then.

Last season he played three EFL Cup games against West Ham, Brighton and Southampton respectively – all victories – as well as being handed the chance to start in a 4-0 home win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.

He was also used as a second half substitute when the Reds lost 3-2 away to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers knew of Morton from when he was Liverpool manager and is well aware of the youngster’s exciting talents.

But the Northern Irishman knows he faces tough competition for his signature, with Premier League West Ham having already expressed their interest in the players.

Dutch side Ajax, Braga and Club Brugge are reported as being keen to sign the player as well.

CAREER CROSSROADS

Rodgers hopes he holds the key to sign the former Academy graduate, who is now facing a crossroads in his burgeoning career after 16 years at Anfield.

Morton spent 11 years developing in the club’s successful academy system before making his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Arsenal in November 2021.

Only four days later he made his Champions League debut, playing the whole game in a 2-0 win over Porto.

And the player’s maturity for such a young age, added to his growing qualities, are two of the main reasons why Rodgers would love to tempt Morton to Celtic Park this summer as the Hoops look to win an impressive fifth league title in a row.

Morton has previously had loan spells with Hull City and Blackburn Rovers to get games, but has really shot to prominence this month after starring for his country.

England bravely fought back from 2-0 down to beat Germany 3-2 in the Under-21 Euros’ final, with Morton playing a starring second half role.