Ben Doak turned down a bigger contract offer from Leeds United in order to sign for Liverpool.
That’s according to The Athletic who confirmed Liverpool’s signing of the 16-year-old from Celtic today.
They claim that the youngster was offered ‘more lucrative terms’ by the Yorkshire club. But instead, his ‘heart was set’ on moving to The Reds.
Jurgen Klopp’s good record of promoting young players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones is said to have played a ‘pivotal’ role in making Doak’s mind up.
The winger, who will cost Liverpool £600k in compensation fees, will join up with the academy for next season.
An investment in the future
Doak shouldn’t be expected to challenge for a place in the Liverpool first-team any time soon.
But having said that, his signing does represent a not insignificant investment from The Reds in such a young player.
To part with a transfer fee for his services, Liverpool obviously expect big things. You can see why too, Doak looks frighteningly quick and incisive.
He was called ‘fantastic’ by Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou via The Scotsman after making his debut for the club in January.
The Glaswegians were desperate to keep Doak. But once it became clear he would be continuing his development elsewhere, he was only given one more game in the first-team.
A glimpse of what is to come
Doak scored a hat-trick earlier in the week for Scotland’s U-17 side and the goals were a microcosm of what Liverpool can expect.
Two with his right-foot and one with his left, Doak shone whilst playing in a right-sided role for Scotland. He finished off two moves arriving late into the box.
The third came from a more central position as he poked home from inside the six-yard box.
Doak also had a hand in another goal for his team. Twisting the defender inside out on the right-hand side, his ball into the box went in off the defender.
The young man looks full of confidence and self-belief and clearly thinks he has what it takes to make it into Klopp’s first-team.
Welcome, Ben!
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