Liverpool are reportedly willing to offer Ben Doak to Crystal Palace in a bid to sign Marc Guehi, with the Reds keen to reduce the £50million asking price for the England defender
14:59, 30 Jun 2025Updated 15:04, 30 Jun 2025
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hugs Ben Doak
Liverpool's latest transfer approach for Marc Guehi could be bolstered by Ben Doak(Image: PA)
Liverpool are reportedly considering offering young talent Ben Doak to Crystal Palace as part of a deal to snap up £50million-rated defender Marc Guehi.
The Reds haven't closed their chequebook in the transfer market yet, having already bagged Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, for a total spend of £186m. Now, with centre-back Jarrell Quansah's expected exit, the focus has shifted to another defensive addition, and England ace Guehi is topping the club's wishlist.
The 24-year-old would supposedly set the Reds back around £50m, but to soften the blow, young Scottish winger Doak, who impressed his former manager Jurgen Klopp, is reportedly being offered up in a swap deal for Guehi. Liverpool value the 19-year-old at £25m and plan to use him to entice Palace into letting go of Guehi this window. The defender's contract runs out in 2026.
Doak emerged in 2021 as a Celtic youth prospect, making his debut in a Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee United that year. He was snapped up by the Reds in 2022 for roughly £600,000 and made his Liverpool debut in an EFL Cup match against Derby County.
The winger's meteoric rise saw him swiftly excel in the club's U18 ranks, scoring on his first start, before rapidly outgrowing even the U21 side. Under Klopp's guidance, Doak shone brightly, leaving a lasting impression on the German boss, reports the Mirror.
Liverpool's Ben Doak (left) and Darmstadt's Fabian Nurnberger battle for the ball during the pre-season friendly match at Deepdale Stadium
Doak stunned ex-Reds boss Klopp(Image: PA)
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In a 4-2 friendly win against German outfit Karlsruher in July 2023, Klopp was left speechless by Doak's display, stating: "Ben Doak, oh my God, it's much fun to watch these kids."
Later that year, when quizzed about his young guns, Klopp raved about Doak, adding: "Ben Doak, obviously nice signs, he's with us in training again. Special boy, really confident, has something nobody else delivers, really.
"This kind of dribbling, this kind of straight-forward bravery, all these kind of things. Technically, really good, high speed, super-promising, but very young."
Fast-forward to the following year, and Doak, on the mend from a knee injury, earned a nod in Steve Clarke's initial Scotland squad for Euro 2024. Ex-Liverpool stalwart Danny Murphy heaped plaudits on the youngster
"He is a super quick, explosive winger," Murphy told talkSPORT. "I don't know where he is at fitness-wise, but he gives you something so different because of his pace. He's got amazing, explosive pace, which could cause teams problems off the bench."
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Sadly, Doak missed the final cut due to his injury and was soon loaned out to Middlesbrough for this campaign. He performed admirably in the Championship, scoring three goals and registering seven assists.
Despite the clear respect for Doak, his departure could pave the way for Guehi's arrival on Merseyside, as the Reds prepare to defend their Premier League title.