Liverpool, following their Champions League final heartbreak against Real Madrid, will be desperate to end their trophy drought under Jurgen Klopp who has already roped in several high-profile resources to step up their title push. However, the Reds are also welcoming offers for their fringe stars who are likely to be offloaded this summer and might lose their academy prodigy Sheyi Ojo as Middlesbrough are in £10m talks with Liverpool for Ojo according to The Sun.
Ojo, 21, was promoted as a project player under Jurgen Klopp with 13 senior appearances but mostly spent his time on loan in recent years to experience regular minutes in Championship football. A couple of short yet impressive stints with Wigan Athletic and Wolves saw the winger complete a season-long loan move to Fulham last summer and despite the Cottagers’ Premier League return through the playoffs, Ojo struggled to attain enough first-team action through injuries.
He netted 4 goals and laid on other two in 22 league appearances and was an integral part of England’s U20 squad that conquered World Cup glory last year in South Korea.
The Three Lions youngster is now enjoying his pre-season with Liverpool and has been immense so far with his name constantly among the goals. His fine form has seen the Reds slap a price tag of £15m for his services and Middlesbrough, on the verge of losing Adama Traore to Wolves for a fee of around £18m, have identified Ojo as a like-for-like replacement for the pacy Spaniard.
The Boro, under Tony Pulis, missed out on Premier League promotion last season following a playoff semifinal defeat to Aston Villa but are now regrouping themselves at the Riverside to keep up their good work. Although they are preparing a £10m bid for the starlet, the Reds will prefer yet another loan deal if their valuation is not met.
The presence of Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri has sent Ojo further down the pecking order at Anfield, but the Boro will have a livewire winger with class and quality to flourish for an ambitious outfit down the English foodchain.
Pulis has parted ways with a string of resources but only made a couple of signings so far for their senior side, who are set to kickstart the new campaign this weekend against Millwall. Both Paddy McNair and Aden Flint are exciting inclusions but the gaffer must wrap up a deal for the young, muscly and energetic Sheyi Ojo unless the exit talks of Adama Traore breaks down in due course.
