Boro can reap benefit of potential Doak move

CLUB EARNING BIG REPUTATION FOR DEVELOPING LOAN STARS

- By CRAIG JOHNS

LIVERPOOL look set to profit big this summer from the sale of Ben Doak and Middlesbrough can benefit from that.

Everton are said to be really keen on the winger, who enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at Boro last season. David Moyes is keen to sign his fellow countryman having long been an admirer of the former Celtic youth star. Liverpool will demand a £30m fee.

If Doak did move between the two Merseyside clubs this summer, he'd be only the third to do so in the Premier League era.

Incidentally, the other two both also have Boro connections. Nick Barmby did so in the summer of 2000, moving from Everton to Liverpool in a £6m deal. The last player to do it was Abel Xavier, who went in same direction as Barmby in January 2002.

Sadly, Boro won't benefit financially from any such move for Doak, despite playing a big role in the development and exposure that will ultimately lead to Liverpool's profitable sale this summer. That's the nature of the loan market, sadly. But Boro can still benefit.