How Middlesbrough won transfer battle for Liverpool's Ben Doak after head start

IT was very early in the summer, in a Middlesbrough recruitment meeting, when the conversation turned to Ben Doak.

Liverpool's plans for their highly-rated teenage winger were at that stage unknown.

Doak had spent the second half of last season out injured and there was, of course, the added complication of a change in the dugout at Anfield. Arne Slot would want to take a close and considered look at all of his squad before decisions were made on potential loan moves.

But Michael Carrick's message to head of football Kieran Scott, head of recruitment Chris Jones and the rest of the transfer team was clear: if there was any possibility of bringing Doak to the Riverside, the head coach would love to have the winger in his squad.

The recruitment team had already made a head start.

Jones was in the stands at Anfield back in 2022 when Doak - two days before his 17th birthday - came off the bench to make his Liverpool debut in a League Cup tie against Derby County.

"He is really a lively boy, a smart player, good dribbler, fast, can use both legs," said Jurgen Klopp that night.

"He's good. It was nice to watch, really nice to watch."

Jones, who'd only arrived at Boro a couple of months earlier, was immediately struck by what he saw that night and added Doak to a long list of potential loan signings in the future.

That's a list that's being constantly tweaked and those on it - the majority exciting young talent at leading Premier League clubs - constantly monitored. And that was the case with Doak in the two years that followed his debut.

The winger was watched, background work done and conversations held, with Boro letting Liverpool know they'd potentially be keen if and when a decision was made to let him leave on loan.

And so, when, just 48 hours before the summer transfer deadline, Boro learnt that Liverpool were indeed willing to allow Doak to move out, they were well prepared to "sell their project".

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Repeatedly throughout the summer there was talk of "alignment" behind the scenes at Boro, with all the key recruitment and coaching figures on the same page. That was the case in the pursuit of Doak.

Norwich City and Hull City had already made their move. Although Boro didn't have time on their side, other factors did play in their favour. Liverpool felt Boro - the club, the side, the head coach - were a good fit, and Slot told the winger that himself.

Carrick, as Scott said on numerous occasions during the summer, is a "big pull", and Jonathan Woodgate has also retained strong links with Liverpool having previously worked for the top flight club as a European scout.

The development of the likes of Morgan Rogers and Chuba Akpom was obviously included in the pitch. Doak - who already knew some Boro players - visited Rockliffe alongside agent Jackie McNamara and a swift decision was made.

He was swift to make an impact as well, with his boots on and in the dressing room. His Boro and Scotland teammate Tommy Conway this week told of how Doak is "always at it" on and off the pitch. There's a fiery confidence coaches and teammates love.

"His attributes were obvious and we knew, as everyone has since seen, what he would bring," says Carrick, reflecting on the capture of a player who has quickly undoubtedly established himself as one of the most important players in Boro's squad.

"I just thought he was someone that would really suit us, playing the way we do, but also, I believed we would really suit him as well. It seemed to be a good match."

When a talent like Doak emerges, it doesn't take long in football for word to get out.

"I can't remember exactly when I first became aware of him; it was just over time really," says Carrick.

"I was aware of him and was hearing good things about him. Then obviously over the summer as it developed, as I always say, we were looking to see and open-minded to what might pop up.

"Sometimes it's planned, sometimes it's not but the opportunity came and we made the best of it."

Doak has turned heads and terrified defenders since his arrival. Norwich got a reminder of what could have been when the winger troubled the Canaries at Carrow Road. Only two Championship players are averaging more successful dribbles per 90 minutes and only two players in Europe have more carries into the penalty area than Doak so far this season.

"We're delighted to have him, he's done great and settled in so well," said Carrick.

"He's still young, he's still learning and developing physically, so we still have to be careful with him. But I enjoy watching him at the moment and I think you can see he's playing with a lot of confidence and looking really dangerous."