Harvey Elliott has delivered a heartfelt tribute to his close friend Tyler Morton following the 22-year-old’s permanent departure from Liverpool. Morton joined Liverpool aged seven having grown up supporting the Premier League club.
The midfielder progressed through the Reds’ youth system and made 14 first-team outings after making his competitive bow in 2021. He enjoyed positive loan spells with Hull and Blackburn. French club Lyon have now completed a £15million deal for the England Under-21 international, sealing his permanent departure from his boyhood club. Elliott, who struck up a strong friendship with Morton after his own arrival from Fulham aged 16 in 2019, has expressed how he feels “so proud” of his midfield colleague. Responding to Lyon’s reveal video, Elliott penned on his Instagram story: “My brother @tylermorton6. So proud my mate! ! Deserve it more than anyone [two red heart emojis].”
Elliott himself could be heading for the exit door this summer, with RB Leipzig reportedly keen to secure his services as a possible successor to Xavi Simons. Simons appears poised to complete a £60m switch to Chelsea, prompting Leipzig to approach both Liverpool and Elliott regarding a potential transfer.
Elliott remains a lifelong Liverpool supporter and is believed to be hesitant about departing, though he stands ready to move elsewhere for the benefit of his career development.
The 22-year-old managed a mere six starts across all competitions last season. Earlier this summer, he confessed that he would consider leaving Anfield in search of regular football. “It’s just a situation that me and the team have to have a conversation about because I’m coming into an age now where I’m 22, I’m going to be 23 next season,” Elliott said while at the U21 European Championship.
“I don’t really want to be wasting years of my career because it’s a short career. You don’t know what’s going to happen. I need to reflect. I need to see if I’m content in doing what I’m doing and how can I improve as a player because that’s the most important thing.
“I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. If that’s to go somewhere else, then it’s a decision that I’m going to have to make and I just need to see what happens.
“Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But most importantly, it’s just about what’s best for my career.”
A version of this article first appeared on the Mirror website