Liverpool’s position on Tyler Morton and Wataru Endo transfers ahead of January

Liverpool are not anticipated to sell Tyler Morton or Wataru Endo in the January transfer window, despite neither midfielder securing a regular starting spot.

Arne Slot has established a core group of four midfielders who regularly start, a group that even Harvey Elliott has found difficult to break into.

Among these are academy graduate Morton and Endo, the fourth-oldest player in the squad, who have played just 162 and 261 minutes respectively.

However, despite their limited playing time and significant summer interest, Liverpool are not planning to allow either player to leave in January.

This information comes from two reliable Merseyside journalists. James Pearce of The Athletic has provided details on Morton, while David Lynch, now writing on Substack, offered an update on Endo.

Pearce explained that Liverpool will not allow Morton to go on loan. He added that, with clubs unwilling to meet their £20 million asking price in the summer, “unless a midfielder is added, that stance is likely to remain unchanged.”

Meanwhile, Lynch reported that Liverpool won’t move Endo in the middle of the season, although his situation may be reassessed at the season’s end.

In July, Marseille had an £11.8 million bid for Endo rejected, and no further offers came forward. While several European clubs showed interest in Morton, no permanent bids were made. Bayer Leverkusen were seen as the closest to signing the 22-year-old, but with Liverpool unwilling to loan him out again, he remained at the club.

Pearce noted that Morton’s “attitude and application in training have been second to none,” with Slot and his staff clearly impressed by his dedication.

With Liverpool advancing to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and likely to progress deep into the FA Cup – having drawn League Two’s Accrington Stanley in the third round – there will be more opportunities in 2025.

It’s reasonable to assume that Liverpool would not be open to weakening their squad in January, despite the limited roles played by both Endo and, in particular, Morton.

Both players are expected to accept this stance, especially with Liverpool in an exceptional position at the close of the year, leading both the Premier League and Champions League.

More news……

Liverpool gets major update on contract negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool awaits decisions from Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold regarding their futures, but there is encouraging news for the former two.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are reportedly “very likely” to sign new contracts with Liverpool. The two, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, are approaching the end of their current contracts, which expire at the season’s conclusion. All three players have received offers to extend their stays, but no decisions have been made yet.

The coming week could be crucial, as the trio may begin negotiating pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs starting in January unless they commit to new deals before then.

Although a final decision before the year’s end seems increasingly unlikely, positive news has emerged regarding Van Dijk and Salah. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, stated that the pair are “very likely” to stay at Anfield.

Sheth also suggested that while Alexander-Arnold’s future remains uncertain, he has been less vocal about it compared to his teammates.

This update follows Van Dijk’s recent comments hinting at his desire to remain at Liverpool. Ahead of the Boxing Day match against Leicester, the captain told Amazon Prime: “I love the club, the club loves me. I love the fans, the fans love me and it is a very good foundation to be successful. In my opinion I can play for another three, four years at least at the highest level. We will see what the future brings.”

Liverpool.com notes that it has always seemed likely that Van Dijk and Salah would extend their contracts, while Alexander-Arnold might require more persuasion, particularly with the allure of Real Madrid. Hopefully, Sheth’s prediction holds true, and there will be no long wait for Van Dijk and Salah to sign new deals. With January just around the corner, it seems they might consider other offers, but the hope is they will ultimately remain with Liverpool.