Liverpool have completed the signing of highly-rated Celtic teenager Ben Doak after a compensation figure of £600,000 was agreed between the two clubs.
The 16-year-old made his first team debut for Ange Postecoglou’s side in January but hasn’t signed a professional contract.
Doak also featured in the recent Old Firm derby but despite his early introduction to the first team fold, the highly-rated winger has found it impossible to ignore the lure of and his quadruple chasing side.
Speaking earlier this month about the challenge of keeping his best young players at Parkhead, Postecoglou said: ‘My role is to look after the footballers that want to be here. The footballers that don’t want to be here? There’s another avenue there for them.
‘When you look at the starting line-up against Dundee United there were a few boys who started out as ball boys for our club.
‘You can’t tell me they haven’t had careers – they’ve represented their country, they’ve won trophies.
‘There are a couple down south who started here too. People may think going down south is a reward or some guarantee of success.
‘Life – and football in general – shows you there are many avenues towards that goal. I think you’re in a great place here if that’s what your end game is.’
According to , meanwhile, Leeds United offered more lucrative terms but the youngster’s decision was a straightforward one when he learned of Liverpool’s interest.
Doak, who scored a hat-trick for Scotland Under-17s against Georgia this week, won’t be eligible to play academy games for Liverpool until next season but was pictured this week at the Reds’ training base holding a shirt with James Milner’s No.7 on the back.
The 36-year-old is out of contract in the summer but had been seeking a one-year extension, but whatever the outcome of negititions Klopp believes the versatile veteran won’t be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.
‘There are talks, but like always, we usually don’t comment further on that,’ said Klopp recently ‘But yes, the club will be in talks with Milly, so we will see.
‘There is no chance that Milly will retire next year. He’s desperate to play on, and I understand that, because life after your career is much longer than your career.
‘So you should extend your career as long as you can, if you can still play football. Milly will be fine after his career as well, but he obviously loves what he’s doing. He will play football next year, definitely.’
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