West Ham United face the risk of missing out on Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton, with Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais preparing an opening offer for the 22-year-old, per L’Equipe.
The Hammers are keen to bolster their midfield this summer after an underwhelming campaign in the engine room.
Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez failed to impress across the season, while James Ward-Prowse struggled to deliver consistent impact.
Tomas Soucek and Carlos Soler (who has returned to Paris Saint-Germain) were dependable, but West Ham are still short on dynamism and control in central areas.
That has led them to identify Morton as a potential reinforcement.
The Liverpool academy graduate has impressed during loan spells at Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, showcasing his composure on the ball, tactical intelligence, and passing range.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp described Morton as a player who ‘has everything in his toolbox’.
However, breaking into Liverpool’s first team proved difficult, and with Arne Slot now in charge at Anfield and trusting Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo, Morton’s future remains uncertain.
West Ham had hoped to capitalise on the situation and bring Morton to the London Stadium, but they now face growing competition.
Reports from France suggest Lyon are preparing to move swiftly with an opening bid in the coming days.
The French club want to revamp the midfield under new ownership and see Morton as a long-term investment.
Should Lyon formalise their interest with a concrete offer, the Hammers may be forced into action to avoid losing out on a player viewed as a potential solution to their midfield woes.
With pre-season preparations ramping up and the Premier League season fast approaching, West Ham’s recruitment team must act decisively or risk seeing Morton slip through their fingers.
Even though we are not particularly high on Morton, West Ham cannot afford to miss out on more targets this summer.