Crystal Palace have expressed an interest in signing Liverpool winger Ben Doak, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough.
Following the acquisition of Federico Chiesa from Juventus in the summer, Ben Doak slipped further down the attacking pecking order at Liverpool. It was felt that leaving on loan would be best for the parties involved, and the teenager joined Championship outfit Middlesbrough in the summer.
The talented Scot has started 16 of 18 Championship games for Middlesbrough thus far, scoring two goals and registering five assists. His performances have been crucial in helping Michael Carrick’s side climb to sixth in the table, thus, occupying the final play-off spot. However, the youngster is not attracting interest from a Premier League side ahead of the winter transfer window.
Crystal Palace have been reportedly monitoring the performances of Ben Doak at Boro. The Teesside-based club will try to sign him if they achieve promotion in the summer but Palace are already waiting to pounce on him should they fail to land Lyon star Rayan Cherki next month.
Ben Doak on Crystal Palace’s radar
Crystal Palace have struggled for creativity and goals this season. With Eberechi Eze not having the best of campaigns, the Eagles’ supply line in the final third has been largely affected. Daichi Kamada is still getting adjusted to the demands of Premier League football, while Adam Wharton’s injury means they have not found it easy to create opportunities from deep.
Thus, Oliver Glasner is looking for attacking reinforcements to enhance his squad. Ben Doak has emerged as a target, owing to his eye-catching performances in the second tier of English football. The Scotland international can play on either flank and unsettle defenders with his burst of pace, dribbling skills and smart movement.
In Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system, Doak could take up one of the advanced playmaker’s spots and provide creativity and dynamism to their attack. With the likes of Eze and Will Hughes, he can combine well in the final third and provide service for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box.
The teenager will be enticed by the prospect of playing regularly in the Premier League. Liverpool may use the option of recalling Doak from his loan spell at Middlesbrough if Palace plan to provide him with regular opportunities during the second half of the season.
Michael Carrick and Boro will want Doak to continue and help them achieve promotion but they’d be powerless if the Reds decide to cut short their highly-rated winger’s loan spell at the Riverside Stadium.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
