Liverpool may sanction rare transfer to Everton if £30m offer lands | OneFootball

Ben Doak, Liam Delap and Everton’s Youth Revolution: Liverpool’s £30m Gamble

In a move that could rock Merseyside football, Everton are reportedly considering a sensational swoop for Liverpool’s rising talent Ben Doak. If successful, it would mark the first direct transfer between the fierce rivals since Abel Xavier’s switch in 2002. TeamTalk have reported that Everton are weighing up a £30m bid – the figure Liverpool would reportedly demand to sanction Doak’s exit.

This rumoured move, alongside Everton’s growing interest in Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, signals a striking shift in strategy under the Friedkin Group. The ambition is clear: usher in a new era of youth, energy and sustainability at the heart of a club desperate to modernise.

Friedkin Group’s Fresh Start

With the transition to the brand new 53,000-seater Hill Dickinson Stadium next season, Everton are redefining more than just their postcode. The squad’s average age is now a clear priority, with efforts focused on long-term investments rather than short-term stopgaps.

Photo: IMAGO

According to Ben Jacobs, “Everton hope to greatly reduce the average age of their squad and the first step could be signing Ben Doak from near neighbours Liverpool.” It’s a bold and potentially controversial step – not just for the nature of the transfer, but because Doak, a highly-rated 19-year-old, still carries untapped potential.

Liverpool’s Price Tag and Premier League Reality

Doak, who cost Liverpool just £600,000 from Celtic in 2022, is now valued at £30m. That’s a reflection of both the inflation of talent in the market and Liverpool’s faith in his development. Doak’s dazzling loan at Middlesbrough this season confirmed what many suspected – that he possesses the kind of flair, confidence and fearless attacking energy Premier League sides crave.

But at Anfield, breaking into the first team is no simple task. Arne Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp last year, has inherited a forward line brimming with competition. According to TeamTalk, “Liverpool are open to cashing in for huge profit,” having previously rejected £15m from Crystal Palace and £16m from Ipswich Town.

Delap Deal a Declaration of Intent

The Merseyside club aren’t stopping with Doak. Everton are pushing hard for Ipswich’s Liam Delap, and as Jacobs notes, they are “stressing in their pitch he would be a starting striker.” With Manchester United and Chelsea in the race, pulling this off would be a significant coup.

Delap’s £30m release clause adds urgency, and as Fabrizio Romano confirmed, “Everton have presented their project to Liam Delap in direct meeting with David Moyes involved.” It’s no longer just about competing for survival – this is a club now fighting for the signature of future stars.

Strategic Gamble or Merseyside Masterstroke?

There’s risk and reward to this new blueprint. While £30m for Doak seems steep, the market has shown that young, homegrown wingers with Premier League potential command premium fees. If Everton do take the plunge, the signal to their fanbase – and rivals – will be emphatic.

And Liverpool? If the valuation is met, they won’t hesitate. “Whether Everton will bite the bullet and meet Liverpool’s full valuation remains to be seen. But if they do, the Reds won’t hesitate to give the green light.”

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

SHOCKED Liverpool Fan Perspective

As a Liverpool fan, this report hits like a thunderbolt. Ben Doak has always felt like a secret weapon – fast, direct, with that classic Scottish grit and drive. Watching him tear it up on loan at Middlesbrough made you believe he could break through under Arne Slot. And now? We’re seriously talking about selling him to Everton?

Letting him go is one thing. But selling to the Blues – at £30m or not – feels like a betrayal of footballing common sense. Are we really willing to hand over a potential Premier League star to our biggest rivals just for profit?

From Everton’s angle, it’s daring. From ours, it’s dangerous. We’ve seen this movie before – young talents leaving too soon, only to flourish elsewhere. If Doak goes and becomes a star, the fallout will be brutal. And while £30m sounds good, it won’t mean much if he’s scoring winners in a blue shirt at the new stadium across Stanley Park.

Selling to Palace? Maybe. To Ipswich? Understandable. To Everton? That’s crossing a line.