With only two months of the season remaining, Liverpool are still flying in four competitions following their 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates. Star of the 2005 Champions League Final, Dietmar Hamann, has suggested the current side may be the greatest ever to wear the red shirt.
There were concerns during the Reds’ poor form in 2020/21 that the side was aging and that it needed an injection of new blood.
The return to fitness of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, along with the January signing of Luis Diaz, appears to have provided the necessary spark.
Michael Edwards and Julian Ward’s recruitment team are continuing to search for the next generation of talent to keep the conveyor belt of success rolling.
Celtic’s Ben Doak is rumoured to be close to signing his first professional contract with LFC and will join the club in the summer.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s ‘wonderkid’ Gavi is continuing to be heavily linked with a move to Merseyside as his contract talks have stalled.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked goal.com’s Neil Jones for the lowdown on these two talented teenagers.
When asked about Ben Doak, Neil said:
“I think they are close to signing him. Sixteen-year-old winger, played already in the SPL (including an Old Firm game) albeit as a sub, and the game was won. I think Liverpool are looking to take advantage of the fact that he hasn’t signed a pro contract, get him in for next season. I think it will be quite a cheap deal to do, but it is one that they have had to do some ‘charming’, because I think he’s had a few options, not least Celtic, who are keen to keep him. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s in Liverpool’s Academy setup come the summer.”
When asked about Gavi, he said:
“I think there are a few important things to say. One – I think they fancy he’s going to be absolutely incredible. They feel like he is a big, big player in the making at Barcelona. He’s already playing at 17, playing quite regularly in La Liga. I think Barca will want to keep that generation of players: Fati, Pedri, Nico, Gavi. I think we have all given up trying to understand Barca’s finances. It feels like a bit of a lawless situation with them at the moment, where they are able to sign a player for €50 million but they can’t pay players their full wages. If there is an impasse or problem with that, then I’m sure Liverpool won’t be the only team looking. I think they would be very wise to be close to that situation if they can be, because I think he’s potentially that is going to go very, very high, and potentially a player that you could get relatively cheaply.”
Redmen Reacts
The Reds should do all the can to sign Gavi, if possible. The 17-year-old is considered to be one of the hottest prospects in European football and has already starred for his country. Despite not being a Barcelona native, the central midfielder has been at La Masia since the age of 11, so may be fiercely loyal to the Catalan side.
LFC’s transfer committee should be clued up regarding Barca’s financial situation and will hopefully be ready to pounce if there is a chance to sign him.
Young Ben Doak will continue in Liverpool’s proud tradition of bringing the best Scottish talent to Merseyside. There is very little to go off in terms of minutes played, but Doak can take inspiration from the likes of Kaide Gordon, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott, all of whom were given opportunities by Jurgen Klopp at a very young age. Liverpool fans should be excited by Neil’s comments which suggest that he should soon be on his way to Anfield.
