How likely Middlesbrough are of signing Liverpool star Ben Doak again | OneFootball

Doak's loan spell with Boro last season was cut short due to injury.

Middlesbrough's chances of signing former Liverpool loanee Ben Doak this summer are slim as Everton push to buy the Scottish winger.

A breakout season in the Championship under Michael Carrick has earned the youngster some Premier League interest. Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town tried to end Doak's spell with Boro early by signing him in January, but it was unsuccessful, though the winger's time with the Teessiders was cut short due to a thigh injury that he was unable to recover from before the end of the season.

Doak was in some form up until that point. He'd provided a combined three goals and seven assists in 24 appearances before picking up the campaign-ending injury. Had he stayed fit, he could've helped Boro to not slip down the table and miss out on the play-offs for a second season running.

Middlesbrough's Ben Doak loan deal hopes take a blow as Everton interest revealed

Even though the Scottish international had performed exceptionally well for Carrick, the prospect of him breaking into Liverpool's first-team wasn't overly realistic, and so Boro hoped that they may be able to bring him back to the Riverside Stadium for another temporary spell.

However, it has been reported by the Northern Echo that Liverpool could look to sell the 19-year-old this summer, thus leaving Boro in an unlikely position to land Doak. The Reds' Merseyside rivals are interested in signing him, according to Sky Sports.

It's not an easy deal for the Toffees to pull off, however, given the relationship between the two clubs and the potentially £30 million price tag that Arne Slot's side are said to have placed on Doak. With new owners, the Friedkin Group, in place, Everton are reportedly ready to commit a serious amount of money to their pursuit of their rivals' starlet.

Boro will keep an eye on his situation, according to the Echo, but they are certainly towards the back of the queue to get the winger this summer.

Middlesbrough are fighting an uphill battle against Premier League opposition in Ben Doak race

It was always going to be an unlikely deal for Carrick's side to make. The interest from top flight clubs that was shown at the start of 2025 wasn't likely to wane easily just because Doak had been sidelined for the majority of the latter half of the term. The talent was clear for all to see, and when a Championship outfit like Boro are up against Premier League opposition in a transfer race, it's rare that they come out on top.

They could face further attacking woes this window. AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Palace are all reported by The Sun to be after Finn Azaz. He and Doak were the two biggest driving forces during Boro's best period of the 24/25 campaign. Not having either next season would be a big blow to their promotion hopes.