Ben Doak continues to be linked with a move to Leeds United following his return to Liverpool this summer.
The 19-year-old spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough and was one of their standout performers at the Riverside Stadium. Doak made 24 Championship appearances - 21 of them as a starter.
His campaign was cut short by injury, and Doak hadn’t played a competitive game since January after undergoing surgery on his thigh. Since his return, the winger has been firing for Liverpool in pre-season.
While he has been part of Arne Slot’s squad upon returning to Anfield, it remains to be seen whether he will stay in contention for the Premier League season ahead. The Athletic claim the Reds are happy to keep him as a squad option unless their valuation of around £20million is met.
Leeds are keen to bolster their wing options and have been keeping tabs on his situation.
With that said, Leeds Live has taken a look at what Slot, Jurgen Klopp and Michael Carrick have previously said about him as a player.
What Jurgen Klopp has said
Back in December 2022, the former Liverpool boss Klopp hailed a late cameo from then 17-year-old Doak, describing him as a 'natural force'. He assisted Darwin Nunez in their 4-1 thrashing of AC Milan in the Dubai Super Cup.
"Ben Doak comes on, 17 years old, and is this kind of natural force, it's really cool to see," Klopp said at the time. "I'm not sure the Academy could watch the game tonight but when you see these boys and performing in a game like this, it's cool.
"It's a real physical game, adult football is a physical game and the boys need to make these steps so they can get ready for it step by step. How I said, the physical part will come but until you are that strong, you can create a lot of ideas, you can do things a bit smarter."
What Arne Slot has said
Doak didn’t get many opportunities under Slot at Anfield. He joined Middlesbrough on a season-long loan in August 2024, shortly after Slot succeeded Klopp on Merseyside.
"In certain situations you'd prefer to keep them here because then they can train with you and you can implement in the best possible way your playing style," Slot said when asked about possibly recalling Doak back in January.
"But if that means they hardly play then it doesn't lead to the progression you are hoping for. That is the balance we always try to find. Some players we let on loan, Stefan Bajcetic is a good example of that, then you hope to see he plays a lot and has already played a few games.
"It's pleasing that he went to a very good manager in Pepijn Lijnders that knows this club also. For Ben Doak it is similar (at Middlesbrough), he also went to a very good manager and a very good playing style. Do we want to play them on a regular basis, or once in a while keeping them with us? We have to be aware of our own interests, we can't let everyone go who doesn't play all the time.
"We have six forwards, two of them are injured and only have four left, with the schedule we have, that's sometimes a worry for me. Maybe we should bring Ben Doak back!"
What Michael Carrick said
"He's made a really good impression since he's been here and it's worked out well for him. He's played well and growing and developing all the time," the former Middlesbrough boss said last year.
"He's so young and he's played so little football really until this point, so, we've got to manage him and look after him as much as anything but great to see him thriving and improving all the time."
---
KICK OFF - Leeds United pre-season guide 2025/26
The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.
As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!
Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.
Get your copy NOW
Here at LeedsLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Leeds United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Leeds news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.