'Above £10m' - West Brom's Championship rivals in talks over eleventh-hour Premier League swoop

Middlesbrough have reportedly initiated talks with Liverpool over the potential signing of Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton before tonight’s transfer deadline.

Michael Carrick is eager to bolster his squad depth as best as possible ahead of the rest of the season. Morton, a Liverpool academy product, has played just five times for the Reds’ senior squad this term, accumulating merely 360 minutes.

The Times reports Boro have expressed an official interest in Morton and have discussed a potential deal worth “significantly above £10 million depending on bonuses and add-ons”. Time is of the essence with the transfer deadline just hours away but the Championship top-six chasers are testing the waters.

Personal terms wouldn’t be an issue, it’s insinuated, as Morton wants to depart Anfield for improved game time. Now 22 years of age, the eight-time England Under-21 international doesn’t want to waste what are arguably his best years to progress as a footballer.

Morton was wanted by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but Liverpool blocked the midfielder from making the move to join up with former Reds star Xabi Alonso, who manages the German club. It awaits to be seen if Arne Slot’s side will be as reluctant to sell in the final moments of the winter window.

Transfer business hotting up for Middlesbrough and West Brom

Middlesbrough, fifth in the Championship and one point inside the play-off positions, are direct competitors of West Brom’s in the top-six race. Boro have already completed one significant signing from the Premier League today, acquiring the services of Aston Villa’s Samuel Iling Junior on a straight loan deal until the end of the season.

West Brom, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Danish striker Tammer Bany from Randers. The 21-year-old forward has already passed his medical and can effectively be considered an Albion player in a deal worth up to €4 million (£3.3m), according to reports in Denmark.

The youngster, who can play either as a central striker or as a number ten, had previously been linked with a move to Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic but he’s on his way to The Hawthorns instead. Bany signed for Randers from fellow Danish side B.93 for a fee of around £110,000 last February and quickly established himself as a regular.

Right-footed and standing at 5ft 9in, Bany has scored two goals and provided four assists in 15 Superliga appearances this term, including seven starts. Tony Mowbray will be hoping his impending signing - a second in the attacking depart following the arrival of Will Lankshear on loan from Tottenham Hotspur - can help propel West Brom back into the top six.

Ipswich close in on £5m West Brom ace

The news of Bany’s impending arrival may be a balm for Baggies fans concerned by reports that first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer has passed a medical ahead of a proposed transfer to Premier League side Ipswich Town. A transfer fee of up to £5 million has been reported, but it leaves Mowbray without an established number one ahead of what is likely to be a tense run-in.

West Brom are expected to recall 23-year-old goalkeeper Josh Griffiths from his loan spell at Bristol Rovers in order to compete with current back-up Joe Wildsmith for the goalkeeper’s jersey, but may look to sign a replacement prior to the end of the deadline at 11pm on Monday.