Transfer chase for Liverpool wonderkid Ben Doak, 19, officially over due to special clause as four Prem clubs miss out
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THE transfer chase for Liverpool whizkid Ben Doak is over - for now. The Scottish winger, 19, has been in sensational form during his season-long loan at promotion-chasing Middlesbrough. However, Boro’s Championship play-off hopes faced the prospect of being seriously scuppered as a host of Premier League clubs started a January scramble to sign Doak.
![[Soccer player celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/middlesbroughs-ben-doak-celebrates-scoring-965610581.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Liverpool rejected £15m bids from both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town for the livewire with both Brentford and Leicester also believed to be keen. The Reds were holding out for £25m but received no further offers - and now it is too late for him to go anywhere else this month.
A cut-off clause was inserted in the deal that took Doak to the Riverside to ensure that Boro could not be left short by Liverpool recalling the ex-Celtic ace late on in the window. And after Doak scored a stunner on Tuesday to help secure a 2-0 win over West Brom, Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick confirmed: “The deadline has passed for Ben.
![[Ben Doak's 2024-25 Middlesbrough season statistics.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/the-sun-22-23-transfer-auto-980d4557-efa8-4278-ac3f-59226df4b697.png?strip=all&w=960)
“I said all along I was calm! Obviously we’re really happy he’s here, but genuinely, it hasn’t been a big thing for us.”. Doak, who has produced six assists, cut in from the right to curl a left-footed beauty into the far corner from 20 yards against the Baggies to take his tally to three for Boro.
![[Ben Doak of Middlesbrough is congratulated by head coach Michael Carrick after being substituted.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ben-doak-middlesbrough-congratulated-head-965614372.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
