Ben Doak future now settled after Liverpool clause activates to leave suitors disappointed | OneFootball

Ben Doak had been a wanted man during the January transfer window, but his immediate future has now been settled thanks to a clause that Liverpool inserted in his loan arrangement with Middlesbrough.

Crystal Palace and Ipswich had both made offers around the £15m-£16m mark for the Scotland international this month, but these were knocked back by Anfield chiefs.

The Premier League duo had been expected to try their luck with follow-up bids after that initial rejection, but they’re now set to be left disappointed because of a contractual detail that Michael Carrick pointed out.

Carrick reveals Doak clause

Speaking after Middlesbrough’s 2-0 win over West Brom on Tuesday night, in which Doak scored a sensational goal, the Boro manager revealed that Liverpool had added a cut-off clause in the loan deal to give the Teesside club clarity over his situation and prevent the possiblity of him being recalled in the final days of the January transfer window.

The 43-year-old said (via The Northern Echo): “The deadline has passed for Ben. I said along I was calm! Obviously we’re really happy he’s here, but genuinely, it hasn’t been a big thing for us.

“He’s got that weapon and unique threat. The way he plays the game, everyone has their own strengths, but the way Ben plays the game, he’s always in the game and always a threat. We’re obviously happy he’ll be staying here. He’s a big role and he’ll continue to do that for the time that he’s here.”

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ideal for Doak to remain at Middlesbrough

With Liverpool understood to be ‘delighted’ with how Doak’s loan spell at the Riverside Stadium has been going, the Reds will also be quite happy for him to remain with Middlesbrough for the rest of the season, especially with Carrick’s side occupying a Championship play-off berth and pushing for promotion.

The fact that Palace and Ipswich wanted to bring him to the Premier League this month testifies to how well he’s performed in the second tier, with both clubs evidently believing him to be capable of shining at top-flight level.

That’s quite the feather in the 19-year-old’s cap, but when things have been going swimmingly for him on Teesside, the best thing for his immediate development would be to preserve the status quo and see out the campaign with Boro, for whom he’s already made 20 league starts.

At least Doak now has clarity on his future for the remainder of this season, but what happens in the summer is another matter. Would he be ready to carve out a squad place at Liverpool, does he go out on loan again (this time to a top-flight club) or could the Reds cash in on him if his value is on an upward curve?

That’s a decision for later on in the year. For now, the Scottish teenager can simply concentrate on making the most of his time at Middlesbrough and potentially ending their eight-year exile from the Premier League.