‘Liverpool set to decide Ben Doak fate with Slot worried about starlet’
Liverpool are set to make their decision on Ben Doak’s future amid the transfer interest in the Scotland international.
The 19-year-old impressed during a loan spell in the Championship last term as he scored three goals and created seven assists in 24 appearances for Middlesbrough.
However, Doak’s loan spell with Boro was cut short courtesy of a thigh injury, and his last second-tier outing arrived on 25 January.
Before joining Liverpool in 2022, the teenager played for Celtic but made just two senior appearances for the Glasgow outfit ahead of his move to Merseyside.
Liverpool have three options for Doak
After winning the Premier League title, the Reds have landed ambitious moves for the likes of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong as Liverpool close in on Milos Kerkez.
While Arne Slot looks to ready his squad to defend their top-flight trophy, the likes of Doak could be seen as somewhat of an afterthought.
Meanwhile, responding to a question about Doak’s future on the Daily Mail‘s live Q&A [24 June], Lewis Steele revealed: “There are three options for Liverpool now: loan him out to the Championship or bottom-half Premier League again where he will, all being well with fitness, play 35 or so games in a competitive league; sell him to generate funds; have him as sixth-choice forward.
“Personally, I would loan him out unless a huge bid comes in, with a buyback clause.
“Everton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have kept tabs on him, but neither have been willing to cough up the £25million-plus fee Liverpool are after.”
Doak should push for permanent Anfield exit
Football Insider verdict
The Scotland international is at a vital stage in his career, and should not be content with being Liverpool’s sixth-choice forward, or enduring another loan spell.
| Ben Doak stats | Championship 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 24 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 7 |
Before getting injured last season, Doak demonstrated his quality in the final third and was a miss for a Middlesbrough side who witnessed their Championship play-off chances fade away.
Since moving to Liverpool back in 2022, the teenager has made just 10 senior appearances for the Reds, less than half the number of outings he enjoyed while on loan with Boro last term.
Amid the presence of the likes of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, Doak seems incredibly unlikely to receive regular game time in the North West next season.
Furthermore, Liverpool’s recent capture of Wirtz demonstrates Slot’s appetite to continue bolstering his frontline, while Alexander Isak could still leave Newcastle amid the interest from the Reds.
Meanwhile, Kostas Tsimikas has been tipped for an Anfield exit in a Liverpool News 247 exclusive.