“With his performance against AC Milan, it’s obvious that he has no future here. He should find himself a new club because he is not part of my plans” – This is according to Arne Slot as he has made it clear that a highly-rated Liverpool midfielder is not part of his future plans following a decision involving Yokohama FM.

Liverpool’s preparations for the new campaign are in full swing, with important decisions already shaping the squad’s direction.

While on their pre-season tour in Asia, the Reds suffered a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan. Despite the result, manager Arne Slot used the match as an opportunity to evaluate a wide range of players across multiple positions, focusing more on performance than the final score.

Young talents were given the platform to make their mark, with Rio Ngumoha again impressing in his 45-minute showing. However, one player who had much to prove was Tyler Morton — and Slot’s handling of the midfielder may signal his future lies away from Anfield.

During the match, Slot substituted Morton just 30 minutes into the game. While preseason typically sees players rotated in halves, Morton was replaced unusually early, likely due to a few misplaced passes and difficulty keeping up with the game’s pace.

Though he did return later in the match — filling in after Ryan Gravenberch, who initially took over Morton’s role, needed a rest — the circumstances suggest it wasn’t a planned second chance, but a necessity due to the team’s situation.

Slot’s choice to limit Morton’s minutes, even when the result was secondary, implies the 22-year-old may not feature in the manager’s long-term plans.

Meanwhile, West Ham continue to express interest in the midfielder, who earned praise for his performances at the U21 Euros and has been described as a “fantastic” talent. The Hammers are also eyeing Harvey Elliott, and Liverpool are reportedly seeking £55 million for the pair — potentially valuing Morton at around £10m–£15m.

Although staying at Liverpool is still a possibility, a transfer might better suit both Morton and the club, particularly if regular minutes are not forthcoming under Slot.