Championship playoff hopefuls Middlesborough failed to match Liverpool’s valuation for the midfielder who is not believed to be in Arne Slot’s long-term plans.

While Liverpool won’t be making any deadline day signings this year, for a few hours it appeared a fringe first team player might be set to depart on a permanent deal when Championship side Middlesborough made an approach for midfielder Tyler Morton.

The 22-year-old had a highly successful 2023-24 season on loan in the Championship with Hull City and Bayer Leverkusen were rumoured to be sniffing around in the summer, but when they were unwilling to match Liverpool’s rumoured £20M valuation he remained at the club.

Having made just five appearances for the Reds this season—with three coming in the League Cup—and Liverpool manager Arne Slot not believed to have the player in his long-term plans, Morton himself was said to be pushing for a move as per The Times’ Paul Joyce.

However, Middlesborough now also failed to meet Liverpool’s valuation for the player—a deal said to be worth upwards of £10M including add-ons was said to have been tabled—and so it appears Morton will have to remain at the club at least through the end of the 2024-25 season.

It’s unfortunate for the player, but Liverpool have repeatedly shown they will stick to their valuations for both incomings and outgoings so it’s hardly surprising a deal could not be struck with Middlesborough only offering around half what the Reds believe Morton is worth.