Middlesbrough could face Crystal Palace battle for Liverpool starlet | OneFootball

Palace are keen on Doak, who could be targeted by current loan team Boro if they go up at the end of the season.

Crystal Palace are interested in current Middlesbrough loanee and Liverpool starlet Ben Doak.

According to The Sun, the Eagles are prepared to make a move for the player if they miss out on Lyon's Rayan Cherki, which could pose a problem for Boro.

Doak is currently on loan at the Riverside and at this point, he looks set to stay there for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign, which would be a boost for the Teesside club in their quest to secure a top-six finish and a return to the Premier League.

However, the Reds could potentially recall him in January, though that may not benefit any party, considering how well the Scotland international is progressing in the north east.

Whether he stays at the Riverside beyond January or not, he could be set to compete in the Premier League next term, either under Arne Slot or with another team.

And a team in the English capital have expressed an interest in luring him away from Anfield.

Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough eyeing potential Ben Doak summer deal

Palace are thought to be keen on Doak, and according to The Sun, they will move for the Scottish starlet if they fail to land Cherki.

They could potentially push for a move for Doak next month, which could be an issue for Boro.

But if they wait until the summer, the Teesside outfit will join the race to recruit the wide player again if they go up.

The Eagles, however, could potentially use Marc Guehi in a deal to get Doak, with the England international keen on a move to Anfield as his first-choice destination.

That could give Palace an advantage in this race, but whether they are willing to cash in on Guehi next month or in the summer remains to be seen.

Middlesbrough could retain Ben Doak beyond the end of the January window

Boro are benefitting from having Doak at their disposal, with the player winning plenty of game time and thriving alongside the likes of Finn Azaz and Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Because of this, they will be desperate to keep him.

The player will surely be happy with the amount of game time he's getting too, so he may not want to move away from the Riverside during the upcoming window if there's no guarantee of regular starts during the second half of the season.

But it's his parent club that will probably have the final say.

If the Reds feel Doak is progressing well on Teesside, it would be difficult to see him being recalled unless they really want to push for Guehi and use him in a swap deal.