£30m deal is first step to Liverpool landing true WONDERKID
Liverpool have opened the door to a £30m deal and it could land them a true wonderkid. What a January this could be.
Liverpool have kicked off January by receiving several offers for players. Of course, their first came before the New Year even ticked over as Real Madrid attempted to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold permanently.
EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool eye in-form La Liga midfielder
Liverpool rejected that offer but they accepted one from Fluminense for Marcelo Pitaluga. But that wasn't all.
The Reds saw two bids come in for Ben Doak, currently off on loan with Middlesbrough. The Scot is shining brightly over there, too, making a real name for himself in what is actually his first full senior campaign.
Doak's efforts for Scotland have been stellar on top of that. Essentially, this is a breakout campaign and teams are fully recognising that.
Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town both offered cash for Doak. First there was Palace's £15m bid before Ipswich put up £16m.
Both were rejected, however. Liverpool are after £30m, says The Times.
Liverpool willing to sell Ben Doak
So why are Liverpool even setting a price for Doak? It suggests Arne Slot doesn't quite see him as the long-term answer on the right wing, and certainly not as Mo Salah's ultimate successor.
£30m would be a solid amount for a player Liverpool don't plan on using much. After all, that £30m is for potential - potential Doak won't reach if he's not playing regularly for the Reds.
Thus getting a sizeable figure, and maybe even a sell-on clause, would simply give Liverpool more spending money. And we think there's a perfect way to spend it, too.
The Tyler Dibling experience
We're big fans of Tyler Dibling here at Anfield Watch but then, everyone is this season. The teenager has been a revelation in what is a 'sub-par' Southampton team.
He's taken to the Premier League with ease and looks like a decisive player already. Dibling has opened the scoring twice this season - a notable feat for an 18-year-old who'd never played at this level before.
But Dibling looks like a senior player. He's winning duels (nearly seven per match per Football Critic), completes two dribbles per 90, nearly two shots, 11 final third passes...
It's all stuff that really improves a team. In fact, any one of these stats would have you keeping an eye on a teenage player - Dibling just seems capable of doing it all.
Then there's the added bonus of him being a right-sided forward and thus a natural 'replacement' for Doak. He's homegrown, too - something that could be a problem going forward if certain players leave the Reds.
Liverpool have a golden chance
And here's the thing - Liverpool have a proper chance here. The Daily Mail recently claimed that Newcastle United want to sign Dibling and are pushing.
However, they understand that Liverpool would lead the race should they 'firm up' their interest and really go for Dibling. We think the possibility of Doak's sale is a sign that they could do exactly that.
And it would be a good idea. Dibling is a big talent and looks like a true wonderkid. If Liverpool aren't entirely sold on Doak, Dibling is the step-up.
READ MORE: Liverpool reluctantly AGREE to let star leave after agent talks