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As is now standard practice at Liverpool, the club's decision to offload Tyler Morton to Lyon during the summer transfer window included a 20 percent sell-on clause written into the agreement.
The Wirral-born midfielder had been eager to launch his senior career for quite some time and finally got his opportunity when the French top-flight club made its approach in late July.
Morton had attracted interest from numerous Championship clubs the previous summer, while Xabi Alonso had also made enquiries regarding a potential transfer to Bayer Leverkusen before he ultimately remained on Merseyside for a little while longer. "It's a funny story," Morton recalled to SportBible recently.
"I was on a golf course with my mates at the time. I got a text from my agent, who said, 'Xabi Alonso's going to call you soon.'
"I'd heard about the move but didn't speak about it too much because I'd been told I wasn't leaving Liverpool. Xabi told me how highly he rates me as a player. They wanted to sign me."
Morton added: "[Leverkusen] came in quite late that summer, but I spoke to the manager about it, and Liverpool wanted me to stay. I spoke to my agent, and we were pushing a move, but it was difficult.
"Liverpool told me I couldn't leave at the time, which was fair enough, but if you want to go and play, then you've got to push it. I asked the manager. He was open with me and said he was going to keep me around. Nothing was going to change his mind."
Slot and his coaching team determined that additional midfield depth was required, so the England U21 international remained at the club. A shoulder injury sustained in January also ruled out any potential mid-season transfer last term, before he was eventually allowed to depart following the club's return from their preseason tour of the Far East at the start of August.
In total, he featured 14 times for his boyhood club, including five appearances across cup competitions last season under Slot, and has made an impressive start to his career in France.
However, French media reports have already suggested Morton is attracting Premier League attention, with Crystal Palace reportedly linked with a potential move.
Jeunes Footeux reports that the Eagles "are indeed preparing for the post-Adam Wharton era" and are seeking to cover their options should the England international depart by identifying Morton as a possible replacement.
Michael Gerlinger, Lyon's general manager, recently acknowledged that "financially, things are not going very well," with the French club narrowly avoiding relegation to Ligue 2 following a summer appeal.
Interest from a Premier League club in a young midfielder could prove appealing to the financially struggling French side. The 23-year-old is reportedly content in France and not expected to agitate for a transfer, but interest from the Premier League would naturally intrigue a young, ambitious player.
This could potentially see Liverpool profiting from the sell-on clause included in the deal.
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