Liverpool wonderkid should follow in the footsteps of £30m-rated wing sensation

Before his recent injury, Ben Doak was showing the kind of form which had several Premier League clubs queuing up for him.

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The 19-year-old Scottish winger has been starring for Middlesbrough in the Championship on loan from Liverpool with Crystal Palace and Ipswich both testing Richard Hughes’ resolve during the winter transfer window.

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However, Liverpool’s sporting director stood firm on the club’s £30 million valuation and neither the Eagles nor Ipswich were ultimately willing to meet it.

Now Doak is laid up for a few weeks having suffered a thigh injury which has come as a blow for both Doak and Boro manager Michael Carrick.

It remains to be seen whether Doak makes the breakthrough at Anfield as a senior player or if Hughes and Arne Slot decide his future lies elsewhere. If he goes then Liverpool should earn a lot of money on a forward they paid only £600,000 to Celtic for in 2022.

Trent Kone-Doherty makes the breakthrough

Doak is one of a number of young Liverpool players who could end up banking the club a fortune in the transfer market or else find their way into the first team.

Another who will soon be coming into that category is Trent Kone-Doherty.

There is plenty of excitement around the Irish teenager who has been starring at youth and underage level since joining from Derry City in 2022.

He has been a consistent fixture in the Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League this season, taking his game to new heights earlier this week.

Although the Reds were dumped out of the Youth League on penalties by Stuttgart, Kone-Doherty played his part in helping the contest make it to that stage. He assisted Kieran Yusuf Morrison for the Reds before adding a tidy equaliser from his right-wing station.

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Those contributions came only TWO DAYS after Kone-Doherty made his senior Liverpool debut. The Reds lost to Plymouth in the FA Cup last Sunday but Kone-Doherty can be nonetheless proud of his 15-minute cameo.

He was also on the bench for the club’s final Champions League ‘league phase’ game against PSV with Slot now well aware of the winger’s talents. That could hint at continued involvement for the rest of the season with Kone-Doherty eclipsing the efforts of senior colleague Luis Diaz last weekend.

But whatever happens, the 18-year-old would benefit from additional game-time in the Championship next season in order to best prepare for the next stage of his career.

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An explosive and dynamic attacking talent, Kone-Doherty could well follow Liverpool’s Ben Doak template in order to make a name for himself. Time will tell if he makes the grade at Anfield but these last few days have been crucial for his long-term development.

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