Exciting winger nears first-team return

Liverpool are set for a shakeup in their forward line next summer. As well as the uncertain contract situation around Mohamed Salah, there are also question marks over Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

Arne Slot could be working with a radically reshaped strike line next season and if Salah departs he is going to need a new right winger.

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Although there have been several contenders linked through various transfer windows, Liverpool might well have an in-house solution waiting.

Ben Doak, 19, has been on loan at Middlesbrough this season. The six-cap Scotland international has impressed with three goals and seven assists in 24 Championship appearances.

His form has been so good that it’s been mooted that he could have a part to play at Anfield next season.

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Doak wanted by Premier League duo

Doak was also subject to transfer rumours over the January window with Crystal Palace and Ipswich both linked with his signature. With Liverpool happy with his progression under Michael Carrick at Boro, he stayed put.

But the winger suffered injury heartache just after the window closed with Carrick confirming a thigh injury in training at the start of February.

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Boro have struggled in his absence; they lost FIVE second-tier matches in a row with Doak sidelined for the latter four of those. They snapped their streak on Tuesday, beating Stoke 3-1 away from home, and before the game Carrick hinted that Doak would be soon eligible for a first-team return.

Although this weekend’s Championship game against Derby will come too soon for the former Celtic ace, he could come back into contention next week as Boro try to realign their playoff push.

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"Ben will be in and around it at some point, maybe next week without putting too much of a deadline on it,” Carrick said according to the BBC. "Everyone's waiting to see when he's fit, I get that, but he's not too far away."

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