‘Crystal Palace plan to agree cut-price Ben Doak deal after Liverpool talks’
Crystal Palace are among a number of clubs plotting a move to sign Liverpool sensation Ben Doak after missing out in the January transfer window.
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 Liverpool will be open to negotiations over his price.
Doak, 19, has enjoyed a successful season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship and is now widely expected to make a permanent Premier League move.
Football Insider revealed on 4 April that Liverpool will demand £30million for Doak as Everton are also keeping an eye on his situation.
However, Palace are unlikely to meet their lofty price tag and will instead hold talks to bring down the price through potential clauses and bonuses.
This comes after Oliver Glasner’s side saw a £15million bid turned down in January as Liverpool opted to allow him to remain on loan at Middlesbrough.
Ben Doak set to leave Liverpool as Crystal Palace plan talks
Brown told Football Insider in February that Doak has no future at Liverpool, as he backed Palace to complete his signing after their January efforts.
Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that the Eagles are prepared to re-enter negotiations this summer.
“Palace are interested in Doak, but they’re not going to spend £30million,” he told Football Insider.
“That’s where Dougie Freedman’s exit will be a blow, because they’ll be looking to negotiate with Liverpool to bring that price tag down.
“Doak is a very promising player and one Palace have on their radar.
“I don’t see him coming into the Liverpool team, and to be honest I’m not sure he would start for Palace with Eze, Mateta and Sarr.
“But you’re buying potential with him because he’s got plenty of promise.
“That £30million price tag is a bit steep in those terms, you don’t pay that for a player who isn’t going to make an immediate impact on the team.
“So I’m sure they’ll speak to Liverpool and look to bring that price down.
“Liverpool will be open to that as well because they want to move him on and make some profit, even if it’s £10million or so below what they would ideally want.”
Arsenal and Tottenham race to sign Eberechi Eze
As Crystal Palace begin putting plans in place to strengthen their squad this summer, some of their key first-team stars are attracting interest in a move away.
Brown told Football Insider that Arsenal “would love” to sign Eze and would be prepared to meet his £60million asking price when the window opens.
Arsenal have identified their midfield as a key area for improvement, while he is also capable of playing on the left-hand side to provide an alternative to Gabriel Martinelli.
However, they are not the only side interested in the midfielder, as Brown told Football Insider that Eze is open to joining Tottenham should they opt to make a move.
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