View: Ben Doak has big decision to make amid Premier League loan interest in Liverpool gem
Ben Doak must make a huge decision regarding his Liverpool future with Premier League clubs eyeing a move for the winger.
The 17-year-old has been a bright spark out of the AXA Academy since his move from Celtic in 2022 but a knee injury ended his 2023/24 season and his hopes of featuring for Scotland at Euro 2024.
He has traveled with the squad for the Reds pre-season tour of the USA and has impressed as deputy to Mohammed Salah on the right wing, but after a year on the sidelines, he is eager to make up for lost time this season.
According to Football Scotland (28 July), Doak will sit down with manager Arne Slot and discuss the plans for the upcoming season with Southampton and Leicester willing to take the winger on loan for the year.
Liverpool should allow Doak to have Premier League loan
The Reds’ long-term plans hinge on the development of Doak, he is seen to be the successor to Salah but the club could be tempted to move in the transfer market to find a more ready-made long-term replacement for the Egpytian.
Doak has lost a season of development at a crucial age, and the decision made on his short-term future this summer will be pivotal for his Anfield career.
Salah has an impeccable injury record and with no Africa Cup of Nations this year it’s hard to see where the 17-year-old will feature and it will be dependant on Champions League and domestic cup draws.
A move to either Leicester or Southampton could provide the perfect solution and allow Doak to get a year’s worth of Premier League experience under his belt.
Doak has impressed throughout the youth setup at Anfield with 11 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances and is ready for regular first-team football.
Slot has Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz as his forward options who can all deputies for Salah on the right wing as well as Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai who have both featured there in pre-season.
The Reds have the brightest crop of academy players plying their trade at Anfield, and the nurturement of their talent has to be one of the club’s top priorities in their long-term strategy.
A loan move for Doak is in the interest of all parties Leicester or Southampton will receive a player determined to make his mark in the Premier League, and Liverpool could get their Salah replacement in return.
In other Liverpool news, Southampton eye loan deal for Liverpool teenager Ben Doak.
For more Liverpool news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.