" STRIKER BEN WOODBURN AVAILABLE FOR LOAN "

Liverpool striker Ben Woodburn set for January loan as Jurgen Klopp wants first-team action for teenager
By Joe Bernstein

Wednesday 20th December 2017

Striker Ben Woodburn is the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history and the 18-year-old has been compared to Wales and Liverpool legend Ian Rush but first-team chances have been rare with Liverpool's frontline thriving


Liverpool forward Ben Woodburn is set to spark a transfer scramble in January after Jurgen Klopp ruled he can go on loan in order to gain regular first-team experience.

Woodburn, 18, earned comparisons with fellow Welshman Ian Rush after becoming the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history against Leeds in the League Cup last season.

He also hit the winner for his country against Austria in September to become their second-youngest scorer behind Gareth Bale.

Despite making nine previous senior appearances for Liverpool, Woodburn's only outing for his club this season came in an EFL Cup defeat at Leicester and he faces tough competition for places from Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge, Dominic Solanke, Adam Lallana and Danny Ings.

Klopp has therefore decided Woodburn's development will be better-served playing first-team football elsewhere and he can look for a loan club once the transfer window opens.

Though no agreement has yet been reached with another club, it is believed the Championship is the likeliest destination for Woodburn.

His former international manager Chris Coleman is in charge of Sunderland with Coleman once saying: "He has all the attributes to go on and become a great player"

However, there has also been reported interest in recent weeks from Huddersfield Town, Leeds United and Bundesliga side Hannover.

Woodburn, who lives near Chester by the Welsh border, chose to play for Wales instead of England. He scored his first Liverpool goal aged 17 years, 45 days to take the record from Michael Owen.

"I've known Ben since he was 12 or 13. He's a huge talent. The lad is going to be world-class," said former Liverpool and Wales idol Rush.

Woodburn has earned a reputation for versatility in his short career to date, and has played up front, as a No 10 or out wide.

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Would be nice but probably go to Jacks before us and he would have lumps kicked out of him in Championship.

There will probably be enough interest for Liverpool to be looking for a sizeable loan fee for him.

With Coleman having arrived recently and Sunderland probably looking to back him then they could be a destination for him though it could be argued that his education would be better served at a club challenging at the top of the table rather than one involved at the foot of it.

Would hope that we are at least looking to see if a deal could be done for him on loan.

Would be nice but probably go to Jacks before us and he would have lumps kicked out of him in Championship.

Klopp wants him in the Championship preferably, as it'll give him games and toughen him up

Being honest, I personally don't think he is for us right now but I'll go with Neil Warnock's assessment of the whole situation and welcome him (or any other player) who comes in this January

He's going to be a great player but unfortunately I don't see that coming to us is going to help him or us.

The only way that Liverpool will loan him is if he's garunteed game time. He's untried at this level and there's not many youngsters of his age that are able to perform week in, week out in the Championship due to the physicality so I just can't see Warnock wanting him as the only way he would fit in would be to drop Hoilett or Mendez-Laing.

That said, if Liverpool only want a commitment that he'd be included in the match day squad that is massively different and we should bite their hand off at virtually any price

I’m not sure how good the lad is tbh I’ve only seen him in two and half welsh games for me it’s not enough to go crazy about

Would be nice but probably go to Jacks before us and he would have lumps kicked out of him in Championship.

Abrahams did OK in championship last season and just a bit better than he is in premiership this season don't you think?

No thanks. Must prefer a proven striker we dont want to be taking a gamble

Yeh good point.

Would be nice but probably go to Jacks before us and he would have lumps kicked out of him in Championship.

Abrahams did OK in championship last season and just a bit better than he is in premiership this season don't you think?

For a start, he's a winger! Really good player, but he'd still be on our bench. I agree that he's more likely to go to a struggling Premier club.

He would replace Tomlin for me. The slug is not a dedicated professional.

If he's going to the Championship then i think Wolves will pick him up.

Would take him in a blink

Be a great option, we've thin up front and on the wings at the moment.

I think Warnock wants the more - been there done it - type of player.