Michael Carrick confirms key cut-off point in Ben Doak recall clause with Liverpool
THE recall clause in Ben Doak’s loan agreement has a cut-off point that means Middlesbrough will not be left high and dry on deadline day at the start of next month.
Doak signed a season-long loan deal when he joined Boro from Liverpool in the summer, but the arrangement contains a clause that enables the winger’s parent club to recall him this month.
However, the clause does not apply to the whole of the month, and it is understood if Liverpool were to recall Doak, they would have to do so at least a week or so ahead of deadline day. That would then give Boro some time in which to secure a replacement ahead of the 11pm deadline on February 3.
Liverpool rejected offers from Crystal Palace and Ipswich earlier this month, at which point there had looked to be a good chance that Doak would be leaving Teesside at some stage. However, there have been no further bids for the Scotland international, who now looks much more likely to be remaining with Boro for the remainder of the campaign.
“There is a cut-off point,” confirmed Carrick. “There’s something in place that means it’s not to the end of the window with Ben, it’s not something that will run to then.
“It doesn’t go up to that point. A lot of loans have that kind of arrangement in place, and it’s something that is there. There’s nothing changing with that situation, genuinely. There’s nothing changed there, and we’re pretty calm about things.”
The situation with Emmanuel Latte Lath also remains unchanged, with the striker expected to remain in the squad for tomorrow night’s home game with West Brom.
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Latte Lath has been the subject of sustained interest from MLS side Atlanta United, with Ipswich Town and West Ham United also having been linked with a possible move this month.
Boro have plans in place if Latte Lath was to leave this month, although Carrick concedes that the closer it gets to the deadline, the harder it will be to replace anyone who then heads through the exit door.
“Regardless of any individual, the closer it gets to a deadline, the more difficult things become,” said the Boro boss. “That’s the same for any player and any club. It’s always the danger and always the case.
“You’ll always see that a lot of things can happen in the last day or so of the transfer window. It’s not really ideal, but it’s just the world we live in and the business that’s been created. It’s why so many people will be glued to deadline day to see what’s going to happen.
“If you’ve got players that other teams are interested in, then it does leave you open (to losing people late on), but there’s nothing you can do about that really. There’s not really anything you can do to control that, other than staying calm and having a plan.
“The timing to then go on and implement plans, that’s another issue. But that’s not something that’s new for this window and it’s not something that’s unique to us. It’s the way the business is, and we’ve just got to accept it.”
Carrick regards this month’s window as an important opportunity to reshape the squad, but insists Boro’s thinking has not been affected by the recent poor run that has seen the club win just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.
“Transfer windows are always important,” said the Boro boss. “Whatever situation you find yourself in, they’re always important because it’s the time when you can make a bit of a difference.
“That hasn’t changed. One or two results doesn’t change the importance of it or doesn’t change the psyche from our point of view when it comes to recruitment. Players coming in, players leaving – it doesn’t change that over a period of one or two weeks. The planning is a fair bit longer than that.”
