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Liverpool and Newcastle United transfer factors offer Middlesbrough fresh Ben Doak encouragement

Ben Doak of Middlesbrough applauds the fans after a Sky Bet Championship match
-Credit:Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images


Middlesbrough’s hopes of keeping Ben Doak this month could be handed a major boost, with interested clubs said to be reluctant to meet Liverpool’s asking price in the January transfer window.

While Liverpool are said to be happy with how the 19-year-old’s loan spell at the Riverside is going, they appear willing to recall him from Boro and sell, if someone meets their £30 million valuation. Michael Carrick has admitted the situation is ultimately out of Boro’s hands.

For the time being, Doak remains a Boro player, with the club monitoring developments while having potential targets in mind should any of the transfer interest develop further. But Boro might have been given hope of keeping Doak for the season as initially intended.

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Weekend reports have credited Bournemouth with interest, with the Sun suggesting that the Cherries have now moved to the front of the queue, ahead of Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, who had offers turned down early in the January transfer window.

While Bournemouth are said to be interested, they would ultimately only be able to meet Liverpool’s valuation this month if they sold Antoine Semenyo, who they are reported to value at over £50m.

Liverpool and Newcastle United have both been credited with interest but Newcastle are said to be put off by the valuation of the former Bristol City forward, while there’s a general feeling that it’s a move more likely to happen in the summer. There has been some talk that Liverpool could use Doak this month in a deal to entice Semenyo to Anfield, but the feeling currently on Merseyside is that such a move is more likely for the summer.

As such, while you can never say never in a January transfer window, it offers fresh hope for Boro that Doak could yet be staying on Teesside for the remainder of the campaign. It would be a huge boost for Boro, with the winger a real star so far as Carrick’s side push for promotion.

The Scotland international was left out of Boro’s squad at the weekend for the FA Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers. But after, Michael Carrick insisted there was no Liverpool request not to cup tie him, with the decision taken to rest him.