Liverpool reject approaches from Ipswich and Crystal Palace for winger on loan at Middlesbrough| All Football

Liverpool have hit back against Crystal Palace and Ipswich for winger Ben Doak.

Neither Palace nor Ipswich have come close to meeting Liverpool’s valuation for Doak, who is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough.

The Scotland international is said to be one of Palace’s top targets this month, while Ipswich are currently discussing whether to make an offer closer to Liverpool’s asking price.

Liverpool have also rejected some strong interest from teams in Europe. The Reds are happy with the 19-year-old’s progress at Boro and believe he still has a future at Anfield and can eventually play in Arne Slot’s first team.

The 19-year-old won the EFL Young Player of the Month for December and Liverpool believe he is the best player in that division.

The 19-year-old has recorded two goals and five assists across his 17 Championship starts for Michael Carrick’s side and is now attracting interest from the Eagles.

Next: Who is Scottish wonderkid Doak?

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

Ten years ago, nine-year-old Ben Doak was playing for Ayr United’s under-11 team against Hamilton Academicals.

That day, he played in two sevens matches against two different Accies sides and scored nine goals. It would eventually take him to better things.

Watching was Jim Began, Celtic’s chief talent scout. At that point, there was little doubt where Doak was going next.

“I remember seeing Jim on the sidelines and I had the feeling he was there to see Ben, because he was doing so well and there was so much hype around him,” said Liam Anderson, one of the coaches Doak at Ayr Utd at the time.

“That day, you think: let’s hope he does well, but not too well. But that day, it was amazing.”

A decade after that match on the sevens pitch, he was tearing past Croatia and Man City defender Josko Gvardiol at Hampden Park in Scotland in colours.

On a great international break last month he assisted John McGinn’s opening goals in wins over Croatia and Poland. He is now one of the first names on Steve Clarke’s team sheet.

And that’s not all. Doak has established himself as one of the Championship’s most exciting loan players at Middlesbrough – his blistering pace wreaking havoc on second-tier defences. The goals and assists are flying.

Liverpool’s parent club are watching and with doubts surrounding Mohamed Salah’s long-term future at Anfield, Arne Slot may not have to look far for a replacement.

Next Up is Ben Doak.

What Palace and Ipswich bosses said on transfers

Palace boss Oliver Glasner revealed his side are looking to sign two players in the January transfer window, while he also remains hopeful of keeping the defender Mark Guehi in the club.

“We want to sign two players in two different positions. We have to make the deals and this is the job of the club,” he said, speaking before Palace’s next game at home to Chelsea.

“We have a clear commitment that we will sign two new players. Let’s not talk about individual names.”

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has admitted he is keen to strengthen their attacking options but refused to be drawn on it Jaden Philogene links.

Sky Sports News reported on Thursday that Philogene is of interest to Ipswich and that the club is monitoring his situation.

“My focus is on the players we have here,” McKenna said. “Of course, we are trying to add to the squad in this window like every team and we want to make the squad better, not only for the second half of the season but for the long term. So we going to try to do that in the best way possible.

Asked if his side were looking to improve the attack, he said: “I think it’s an area we need to add to. It’s an area we wanted to add in the summer window and then at course we have lost.

“Earlier in the summer we made some good additions but we still would have liked to add maybe one or two more in the summer in the forward areas and then of course George Hirst has missed the 19 league games we’ve had” u get

“That is a big loss, that has put a lot of burden on Liam Delap as a very young striker. Thankfully he has handled that burden well but we still want to add in different areas of the pitch and we for adding more goals in the front field if possible.”

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