Middlesbrough FC struck transfer gold with Liverpool agreement as new developments emerge | OneFootball

Ben Doak was some loan signing from Middlesbrough.

Throughout the EFL, loan signings have always been imperative, with these short-term deals often being the catalyst behind successful sides.

Looking across the past ten years in the Championship, we have seen some stellar players grace the second tier.

Notable examples include Tammy Abraham's prolific 2016-17 campaign at Bristol City, Fikayo Tomori's standout 2018-19 season at Derby County, and Amad Diallo's captivating 2022-23 spell with Sunderland.

This season we have once again seen several players depart Premier League clubs in search of first-team football and the standout player has to be Ben Doak at Middlesbrough.

The 19-year-old has been in fine form for Michael Carrick's side and the recent interest in the winger is displaying just how much of a coup he was for Boro.

Ben Doak's brilliant loan spell at Middlesbrough

Having started the season in disappointing form, Boro made the move to sign Doak and secured a loan deal for him, fending off interest from as many as six reported clubs. Those keen included Premier League duo Leicester City and Southampton, displaying the level of signing Carrick had acquired.

Though it took him a few games to break into the starting XI, a standout performance against Stoke City, where he scored his maiden professional goal, cemented his place in the team.

Coinciding with a brilliant run of form for Boro, Doak's October and November were stunning as he ran riot down the right wing, causing all sorts of problems for full-backs. A naturally gifted dribbler, he also began to find that final pass with five assists across November.

However, it wasn’t just his performances for Middlesbrough that stood out; his consecutive starts in Scotland's victories over Croatia and Poland showcased his ability to excel on the international stage as well.

While his finishing in front of goal could do with some work, his other statistics paint an impressive picture. According to FotMob, he averages 2.02 successful dribbles and 2.43 chances created per 90 minutes. Additionally, his 7.41 touches per game in the opposition box demonstrate his knack for getting into dangerous positions around the penalty area.

This sort of influence is something that Boro won't want to lose as they look to secure a play-off spot in 2025, with Saturday's assist against Cardiff City a timely reminder of the ability he possesses.

Despite this, It now appears that he will depart the North East, with the young winger reportedly keen to end his loan early to source a move elsewhere in the Premier League.

Ben Doak's £30 million valuation

The challenge now facing Boro is the growing interest in Doak’s services as January approaches, with Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace reportedly keen on securing the Liverpool youngster.

According to Football Insider, the Reds will "reluctantly accept" an offer in the region of £25-30 million. Previously, bids of £15 million from the aforementioned clubs had been rejected with Arne Slot's side keen to hold out for almost double that figure.

Whatever the fee, this would be a great deal for the Merseyside club with the Scotsman costing just £600,000 when they signed him from Celtic back in 2022.

If the 19-year-old were sensible, then he would source a move to Palace, with the Eagles somewhat connoisseurs of transforming talented players into world-class footballers.

For Carrick, he surely knew this moment would arrive with Doak's five months at the Riverside displaying a level well in advance of the second tier. For this reason, Middlesbrough fans should wish him well and be thankful that they got to witness Ben Doak first-hand.