Liverpool transfer news as Reds close in on $20M midfielder deal with Lyon

Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sell young midfielder Tyler Morton to Lyon for a fee of around £15 million ($20 million).

Morton made five appearances for the Reds' senior team last term, with the last of them coming in January, as a shoulder injury restricted his chances during the second half of the season.

The 22-year-old midfielder will become the sixth sale of the summer for Liverpool, after the Reds raised around $160 million from the sales of Luis Diaz, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nat Phillips and Jarell Quansah.

Liverpool's shrewd sales have allowed the club to spend heavily on new signings this summer, with the Reds committing around $400 million to deals to sign Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili — Liverpool agreed to sign Mamardashvili last summer, but it counts as a 2025 transfer on the books.

And Arne Slot will hope that the club's spending is not done yet, with the club still in the market for a new striker and a new center-back.

Liverpool saw its official opening bid to sign Isak rejected on Friday, with Newcastle swiftly turning down an offer of £110 million ($146 million) for the Sweden international.

The Daily Mail's Newcastle sources are said to believe that Liverpool's lowball offer indicates that the Premier League champion has "bottled it" in its pursuit of the Sweden international.

All along, it has been understood that Newcastle values Isak at £150 million ($199 million), so for Liverpool's opening offer to fall so below that valuation has left the Magpies scratching their heads.

Newcastle is only willing to sell Isak if it's valuation of the player is met — and also if the North East club has replacements lined up. Ollie Watkins is as a possible target, while a deal to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford continues to be worked on.

It is clear that Isak wants to leave Newcastle after three years with the Magpies, and Liverpool is his desired destination, with personal terms having been agreed in principle between Isak and Liverpool.

Isak did not travel with his Newcastle teammates as they flew to Asia for the club's pre-season tour a week ago, with the St. James' Park club's official explanation for his absence being that he is currently nursing a thigh injury.

However, it soon emerged that Isak wanted to leave Newcastle, and he is currently keeping fit at former club Real Sociedad's training ground.

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