View: Ben Doak decision could save Liverpool millions amid Arne Slot comments
Liverpool could save millions this summer if Ben Doak impresses manager Arne Slot in pre-season.
The winger suffered a meniscus tear last season that kept him on the sidelines for most of the campaign and forced him to withdraw from Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad (Transfermarkt).
He has now returned to training and has been with the first-team at the AXA Training Centre eager to make up for lost time.
Slot made certain to praise his academy players for their efforts in pre-season.
He said: “The most players that are here at the moment are coming from the U21s and I have to give them a compliment because they are full of energy, like to press, like to counter-press. They have been taught really well.” (liverpoolfc.com, 13 July)
Ben Doak could have breakout campaign for Liverpool this season
Doak made an immediate impression in a Liverpool shirt, with a fantastic debut cameo against Derby in the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Just 16-years-old at the time, Doak ran at the opposition defence every chance he could and brought energy to what was a dull 0-0 affair.
He has made 10 first-team appearances for the Reds in all competitions and has impressed with 11 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances for the U18 and U21 sides.
Now is the time for Doak to kick on at Anfield and establish himself as the long-term successor to Mohammed Salah.
Liverpool placed their faith in the academy last season and that will be the plan going forward.
The Reds aim to build an academy of potential future starters and they will add to the crop with the signing of 15-year-old Rio Nguhoma from Chelsea (The Athletic, 10 July).
It was a missed opportunity for the 18-year-old’s development last season as he would have benefited from the injury crisis had it not been for the injury.
But, he has shown his quality as a fast and direct player whenever he has stepped onto the pitch for Liverpool.
He will make Slot think twice about entering the transfer market for a winger when he shows what he is capable of.
The Reds failed to negotiate a move for Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon last month (Daily Mail, 29 June), whereas ,Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao and Juventus winger Federico Chiesa are other names on the list.
Doak has all the tools to become a future starter at Anfield, Liverpool should save their money and invest their time into developing his potential.
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