TBR Football understands Liverpool have inserted a buy-back clause in the £25 million deal to sell Ben Doak to Bournemouth.
Sources have confirmed to TBR Football that the buy-back option is in place, and we can confirm that Bournemouth have fended off interest from other clubs, including Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Ipswich.
Doak was removed from Liverpool’s matchday squad for the match against Bournemouth on Friday as he prepares to finalise his move to the Vitality Stadium.
Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao - Pre-Season Friendly
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The Reds have accumulated approximately £169 million in player sales this summer, with the majority of the funds generated through the departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
Sources: Bournemouth are confident over Ben Doak deal
Liverpool never stood in Doak’s way as he made his intentions clear to play regular first-team football this season, sources have told chief correspondent Graeme Bailey.
Bailey states: “Liverpool rated Doak very highly, but they did not want to stand in his way. They did not think there was a route for him to first-team football in the near future.
“Doak himself had the taste for first-team football during his loan spell at Middlesbrough, and he wants that again.
“Bournemouth think they are getting him at a good price and a good deal.”
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The 19-year-old was eye-catching during pre-season, and he took his opportunity to impress against Athletic Bilbao, getting his name on the scoresheet against the side that finished fourth in La Liga last season.
TBR Football exclusively revealed in January that Liverpool rejected bids from Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town for Doak, and the pair were expected to reignite their interest until Bournemouth swooped in.
However, Liverpool are protecting future interests by including a similar buy-back option seen in the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer.
Liverpool generate significant profit from Ben Doak sale
The Reds paid a £600,000 tribunal fee when acquiring Doak from Celtic back in 2022.
After an impressive loan spell in the Championship with Middlesbrough, wherein he notched three goals and seven assists in 24 league outings – his sale will represent a significant profit for Liverpool.
Once his £25 million sale to Bournemouth is finalised, Richard Hughes will have earned the club a staggering £24.4 million profit on a player who had not surpassed double-digit appearances for the first team.
Indeed, the list of sides interested in his services this summer is a testament to Doak’s ability and potential, but among the crop of attackers currently plying their trade at Anfield, first-team opportunities will have been scarce for the youngster.