Liverpool Winger Likely to Join Middlesbrough on Loan

With attacking reinforcements arriving and developmental minutes likely to be limited this season, 20-year-old winger Sheyi Ojo is expected to head out on loan before the end of the pre-season, and it now appears likely that the young winger will end up in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

This today according to multiple reports, including from Sky and The Liverpool Echo, that say Jürgen Klopp believes Middlesbrough will offer Ojo the best chance at regular football in the coming season—despite there having been interest from Premier League clubs, including Newcastle.

At one point, that was considered the most likely destination for Ojo, but Newcastle had hoped to secure the winger on a loan deal with a purchase option, and Liverpool were unwilling to sign off on that for a player Klopp hopes will develop into a first team regular at Anfield in the coming seasons.

Burnley also reportedly approached Liverpool about a potential loan, but in their case there were concerns Ojo would only be a squad option rather than a regular starter. Middlesbrough may be playing at a lower level, but they’re happy to give Ojo playing time without asking for a purchase option on the player.

Manager Garry Monk is also likely to play a brand of football this coming season at least broadly compatible with the goal of having Ojo develop into a regular at Klopp’s Liverpool. Barring a change in Newcastle’s desire to sign Ojo with a purchase option, then, it looks like a loan to ‘Boro is coming.