Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target | OneFootball

Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target | OneFootball

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·9 January 2025

Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target

Article image:Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target

Middlesbrough are sweating on Liverpool potentially recalling Ben Doak in January, but the Reds have a player who could cushion the blow

January promises to be a spell of uncertainty for Middlesbrough, who are as yet unsure over what the future holds for Ben Doak amid Premier League interest in the Liverpool loanee.


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The situation is completely out of Boro's hands to an extent, as there's precious little they can do to prevent the Reds selling if they want to, with Crystal Palace already putting one offer forward that Liverpool rejected.

Arne Slot's side are rumoured to be holding out for £25m for the Scottish star, so if the South London club meet their demands then Boro will face the reality of losing one of their standout performers this season.

It's not just Palace who Boro have to worry about, as Ipswich Town are understood to have had an offer rejected, while Fulham and Brentford both hold an interest too, so Michael Carrick's men ideally need the situation solving sooner rather than later so they can get on with their own recruitment.

Middlesbrough will almost certainly have a contingency plan in place, but they could also ask Liverpool to cushion the blow by sending them another of their promising youngsters.

Middlesbrough could ask Liverpool to take Tyler Morton

Article image:Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target

Championship fans have become accustomed to seeing Tyler Morton play in the second tier over the past couple of seasons, with the youngster enjoying moderately successful loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull City.

After a potential summer move to Bayer Leverkusen to link up with Anfield legend Xabi Alonso never materialised, Morton has been cast out in the cold on Merseyside, playing nothing more than a bit-part role for the Reds this term.

It could be a Manchester United legend who ends up coaching him in January though, as Morton seems the type of player who could certainly improve Middlesbrough, but would at the very least provide stern competition for places in the middle of the park.

Behind Hayden Hackney and Dan Barlaser in the two holding midfield spots, Boro aren't blessed with too many natural options in that position, so that could be a problem area Carrick can plug if he asks Liverpool to cushion the potential blow of losing Doak.

If they do explore a potential deal, they're likely to face stiff opposition, as Boro's promotion rivals Sheffield United are also rumoured to be keen on a deal to sign Morton in January.

Any potential deal could be scuppered though by the fact Morton is still waiting on the green light from Liverpool to say he can leave, but after the failed summer move, it seems unlikely the Reds will stand in his way twice.

Article image:Middlesbrough FC should ask Liverpool to sweeten Ben Doak recall with deal for Sheffield United target

While a quick glance at the league table would have you thinking Sheffield United would be a better option for Morton, Liverpool will want to send him where he has the best chance of developing as a player, and that would almost certainly be at the Riverside.

Since Carrick took the reins on Teesside, he's nurtured several young players and turned them into Premier League talent, with Aaron Ramsey, Morgan Rogers and Cameron Archer all earning top-flight moves off the back of Boro success.

Emmanuel Latte Lath and Doak are the latest two off the production line destined to play in the Premier League, and Liverpool will surely take that into account when deciding where Morton ends up.

Boro should certainly stake their claim to take the talented midfielder, and if Liverpool are to sell Doak, then handing Morton to Boro would seem a courteous move that suits all parties.

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