Ben Doak makes Liverpool exit decision as ex Celtic starlet set for Championship loan

Ben Doak looks set to join Middlesbrough on loan from Liverpool for the rest of this season.

The young Scottish winger, 18, is being allowed to leave the Reds temporarily to get regular first-team football in order to aid his development. And the Championship appears to be his destination despite reports a number of Premier League clubs were also interested in borrowing him for the campaign.

There as also further interest from the second tier, including from Hull City, but Boro made a strong pitch and that convinced Anfield chiefs that was the best place for the prodigious young Scot, according to the Athletic. Liverpool have just signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus and that added to the competition for places.

Doak was highly-rated by previous boss Jurgen Klopp and the German began to afford him opportunities over the past couple of seasons. But last season was hampered by injury after making five appearances during the first half of it. A knee problem requited surgery and kept him sidelined for months.

He still managed to be named in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for Euro 2024 but heartbreakingly had to pull out due to another injury problem. The Celtic academy product will now hope regular football can help him force his way back in.