Ben Doak ‘has no future at Liverpool’ and ‘Crystal Palace offer will be accepted’
Ben Doak does not feature in Arne Slot’s long-term plans at Liverpool and will be allowed to leave the club upon his return from his loan spell.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that he is unlikely to break into the Reds’ first-team any time soon.
Instead, he will be allowed to leave the club if a reasonable offer arrives following a successful season-long loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Crystal Palace attempted to sign the 19-year-old during the January transfer window, but failed to meet the Reds’ asking price to lure him away from Anfield.
However, Oliver Glasner’s side have not given up hope of landing a deal and are expected to make a fresh bid for his services in the summer transfer window.
Football Insider revealed on 7 January that Liverpool would accept a £25million bid for Doak after they rejected two offers worth around £15million.
They are expected to listen to for new offers in the summer and will be open to potential negotiation about the structure and value of any exit deal.
Crystal Palace plot move to sign Liverpool gem Ben Doak
Brown told Football Insider in November that Crystal Palace want to sign the best Championship talent and help them to develop further at Selhurst Park.
Now, the former scout who remains very well-connected within the game after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that Doak would fit their plans for the future after his spell at Middlesbrough.
“I’m told Crystal Palace would like to sign him,” he told Football Insider.
“What Palace will do, and they’ve got a good record of doing it, is they will be keeping a close eye on the Championship and the young players in that division.
“They have to make sure they scout these players thoroughly and from what I hear, Crystal Palace do that.
“Doak was part of a few young players who all came through at the same time at Liverpool.
“He went off to Middlesbrough where he’s done well and got himself into the Scotland squad.
“He’s done well at that level too, by all accounts.
“But whether he’s going to be good enough to break into the Liverpool team any time soon, I’m not convinced, especially when they’re looking to sign new players.
“I’m not sure whether he’s got much of a future there.
“From what I’ve seen of him, though, he’d be a good option for Palace and I’d expect them to revisit that move in the summer.
“Liverpool will listen to offers from them and then we’ll see if they can come to an agreement.”
Arne Slot plotting transfer swoop after Luis Diaz latest
Doak’s exit from Anfield will likely come alongside of his more senior teammates, as a number of Liverpool’s first-team stars have been linked with moves away.
Arne Slot is keen to strengthen his attacking options in the summer and the likes of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have all been rumoured to be on their way out.
Brown told Football Insider on 21 February that Liverpool plan to sell Diaz and reinvest the money from his exit to fund a world-class replacement.
This comes as the boss wants to land an out-and-out striker to provide a regular source of goals alongside Mohamed Salah, which his squad currently lacks.
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