Tyler Morton: 'Favourites' named as Newcastle battle Nottingham Forest for deal
Newcastle United are the long-term favourites to beat Nottingham Forest to the signing of Lyon midfielder Tyler Morton.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who expects the 23-year-old to be part of a midfield overhaul for the Magpies next summer.
Morton has impressed since moving to Ligue 1 ahead of last season, but is now being heavily linked with a return to the Premier League.
Wyness believes that Forest may be the best fit for the youngster right now, but he expects a move to be delayed until next summer, when he feels Newcastle will come to the fore.
The Tynesiders lost the imposing centre-midfield duo of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes this summer, and Wyness expects further change in that area next year.
Morton is forging a growing reputation for himself in France, and has plenty of admirers behind the scenes at St James' Park right now.
Tyler Morton battle will be won by 'minutes'
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the battle for Morton's signature will come down to who can promise him the most minutes long-term.
The former Liverpool academy graduate found it difficult to break through at Anfield, and a lack of football was his primary reason for leaving England in the first place.
However, speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Newcastle are likely best-placed to land Morton.
"It'll be all about minutes for the kid. Who can offer the best solution going forward?" He said.
"Right now, as I see it, I would think Forest are favourites for January, but I think Newcastle will probably be the favourites when they have a revised midfield in the summer. And I think that might be the way that things are leaning.
"I do see Newcastle becoming the favourites in that route for a summer transfer. I don't think they'll make the move in January, but that's where I assess things as they sit right now.
"He's a hot talent that everybody's after, but as usual, it's minutes, and he wants to see his pathway, and I think Newcastle could offer that for him. He'd be very well received up there at St James'."
Newcastle already working on Morton deal
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last week that Newcastle already have scouts out in France watching Morton regularly.
The ex-recruitment man made it clear that the North East outfit are already aware of every "pro and con" in the starlet's game.
Brown believes that Newcastle will be able to tempt Morton back to the Premier League, provided that he continues to impress in France.
He made 43 appearances for Lyon in all competitions last term, and gained his first taste of Europa League football in the process.