Ben Doak is closing in on a big-money Premier League switch after starring on loan at Middlesbrough last season.
Doak had been part of Arne Slot’s first-team at Liverpool over the summer after his return to fitness and was an unused sub in last weekend’s Community Shield final against Crystal Palace at Wembley. Doak won’t be in Liverpool’s squad on Friday evening for the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, however, as closes in on a move to the Cherries.
Our sister site the Liverpool Echo say that Bournemouth are willing to meet Liverpool’s £25 million valuation of the Scotland international, who joined the Reds from Celtic for just a £600k compensation fee. It follows his massively impressive loan spell at Boro.
The 19-year-old emerged as a star player at Boro last term as they beat numerous Championship clubs to his loan signing. He provided three goals and seven assists and terrorised defences with his pace and direct style before a thigh injury at the end of January ended his season prematurely and derailed Boro’s top-six aspirations.
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Cruelly, the injury came just as Boro were celebrating being able to keep the winger until the end of the season, with talk throughout January of Liverpool exercising a recall option to then sell him. Bournemouth were among three top-flight clubs who had bids rejected at the time.
Doak is understood to have plenty of interest this summer. Leeds United, Everton, Wolves and West Ham were all said to have held interest in the winger, as well as Porto too. But Doak looks set to be heading to the South coast.
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