Michael Carrick insists he is relaxed about Ben Doak's Middlesbrough situation heading into the January transfer window, where parent club Liverpool have a recall clause.
Doak has proven instrumental to Boro's current Championship promotion challenge, with defences up and down the country tormented by the Scotland international this season. Such exciting form from the 19-year-old has not gone unnoticed.
Establishing himself as a key player at Boro, they're desperate to keep him for the remainder of the season and believe that Doak's own preference to stay on Teesside given how much he's enjoying it so far, can work in their favour. That said, as with any uncontrollable situation heading into a transfer window, Boro officials will do as much as possible to be in a strong position to react to whatever scenarios are thrown at them next month.
After Doak told Sky Sports on Friday evening why he felt Boro was the right place for him at this moment, Carrick said when asked of Liverpool's recall clause: “I’m quite calm about it to be honest. No drama. I think we are calm. There are loads of things, ifs and buts and changes in football - that’s transfer windows. I’ve said it to you enough times, but I’m really calm about it to be honest.
"I’m happy with the way that things are going and we’ll take what comes next and deal with it. Ben’s happy, we’re happy, he’s in a good place. You can see in his body language and demeanour he’s happy. He keeps working hard and he’s enjoying it here and it’s been effective for us. As long as that carries on then we’re all good."
Boro appear well-positioned to keep Doak at the club until the end of the season, as initially agreed in the summer. Arne Slot's side is well-stocked and currently healthy while sitting top of the Premier League, making a recall to rejoin the Reds' squad unlikely. One alternative possibility is Liverpool recalling to loan to a lower-end top-flight club, though that carries a risk in that the young wing wizard would, in the middle of a season, be required to re-establish himself in a new environment and learn new tactical expectations.
Asked why he felt Boro would be a better option than that, Carrick continued: "It’s not ifs and buts and comparisons, it's just that he’s in a good place here, he’s doing well for us. He’s had a big impact since he’s been here for sure and we’ve enjoyed having him here. He’s a great character, wants to do well and improve. So far it’s been a really good fit for all of us."
Of course, January is also an opportunity for Boro, and their rivals, to strengthen with new additions. Things are slightly complicated on that front for Boro because their squad is currently at its maximum as far as the EFL's registration rules are concerned. Previously asked about that though, Carrick hinted that Alex Gilbert could go out on loan to free up one spot.
Beyond that, Boro are likely to monitor the market carefully and diligently, open to the idea of new additions if the right players are available, but by no means needing to desperately chase anything with their squad looking in good shape for the second half of the season and what they hope will be a promotion chase.
On conversations ahead of the transfer window, Carrick said: "Talks go on daily. There’s no date in the calendar that will trigger us to get talking about January. I think it’s just an ongoing process really that sometimes changes and sometimes stays the same.
"We’re really happy with the squad and balance that we’ve got at the moment but if there’s something going on then something will go on. I’ve said it every transfer window that I’ve been here, we’ve got to come out of it in as good a shape or better than we’ve gone into it and that will definitely be the case this time."