2 hours ago
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Ben Doak won't be donning the Liverpool jersey tonight as he's on the brink of a transfer to their opponents Bournemouth. The two teams are set to clash in the inaugural Premier League match of the season at Anfield.
Bournemouth are nearing a £25 million ($33.91 million) agreement for the Scottish international, having outmanoeuvred Porto and Stuttgart. Doak, 19, is eager to stay in the Premier League after spending the previous season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough.
Liverpool shelled out £600,000 ($814,000) to secure the promising youngster from Celtic in 2022, with high expectations for his future under Jurgen Klopp. However, injuries and stiff competition have hindered his progress, leading him to seek regular first-team action on the south coast.
This deal could set off a domino effect of transfers, with Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara potentially heading to Brentford for a sum of up to £42.5 million ($57.65 million). This could then pave the way for the Bees to part with Yoane Wissa, who has been absent from training as he eyes a move to Newcastle.
Regrettably for Liverpool, Wissa is not viewed by the Magpies as a replacement for Alexander Isak. The Reds had a bid rejected for the Swedish forward, who continues to train separately from Newcastle's first team.
In his press conference ahead of Newcastle's Premier League opener against Aston Villa, Eddie Howe indicated that there has been no movement regarding the 25 year old's future.
"Alex's situation has been unchanged for a while, and that will continue to be the case," he remarked. Yet, this didn't stop a flurry of questions coming his way.
"I've had a great relationship with Alex," he shared. "You need that with every player. I take my part in that relationship really importantly. I have to work really closely with the player to his benefit."
When quizzed about a new offer for Isak, Howe clarified: "No, there has been no change, all my focus has been on training and Villa and the transfer front."
In response to whether the star forward might stay at St James' Park after the transfer deadline, he commented: "At the moment I would say yes but I've had no change of feeling throughout the summer. He's contracted to us but it's out of my hands."
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