Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has revealed that Liverpool loanee Ben Doak will remain with the Championship side for the rest of the season, as the Premier League club's deadline to recall the winger has passed.
Doak has been heavily linked with a permanent transfer away from Anfield this month, with both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town having seen bids in the region of £15m rejected.
Bournemouth have also been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old winger, but Carrick has insisted that he will not be leaving the Riverside Stadium this month, telling reporters: "The deadline has passed for Ben. I said all along I was calm!
"Obviously we're really happy he's here, but genuinely, it hasn't been a big thing for us. He showed again [on Tuesday] how dangerous he is and then scored a terrific goal. It's something he can do a little bit more, come inside onto his left foot, because it's something he's good at as well. I'm delighted with it.
"He's got that weapon and unique threat. The way he plays the game, everyone has their own strengths, but the way Ben plays the game, he's always in the game and always a threat. We're obviously happy he'll be staying here. He's a big role and he'll continue to do that for the time that he's here."
Doak has been a standout performer for a Middlesbrough side who sit fifth in the Championship table, and has chipped in with three goals and six assists in 23 appearances.
© Imago
Moyes identifies first January target for Everton?
Staying in England and Everton boss David Moyes is reportedly eyeing up a move for Sunderland captain Dan Neil.
The Telegraph claims that the Toffees have added the 23-year-old midfielder to their shortlist of targets, but they may find it difficult to prise him away from the Stadium of Light this month.
Moyes was in charge of Sunderland when they were in the Premier League between July 2016 and May 2017 when Neil was in the academy.
It is claimed that Sunderland are expected to want at least £15m for Neil, who has 18 months left on his contract and is considered a key player under head coach Regis Le Bris.
Neil has made 27 Championship appearances this season, primarily playing as a deep-lying midfielder, for a Sunderland side who sit fourth in the table and are pushing for promotion to the top flight.
Moyes is said to be looking to strengthen his Everton squad not only in midfield, but also at left-back and in attack this month.
© Imago
Celtic star edging closer to exit... but could former attacker return?
Over in Scotland, Celtic are reportedly in advanced talks with Ligue 1 side Rennes over the sale of forward Kyogo Furuhashi for around £10m.
Sky Sports News claims that an offer for the Japan international is on the table, while separate discussions are taking place over the possibility of Jota returning to Parkhead.
Furuhashi has been an integral player for Celtic since Ange Postecoglou brough him to Glasgow in the summer of 2021, scoring 85 goals and providing 19 assists in 165 appearances across all competitions.
However, it is understood that the 30-year-old's form for the Hoops has not always been recognised by Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu, who has previously criticised the level of the Scottish Premiership.
Furuhashi is said to be open to joining a club competing in one of Europe's top-five leagues, even though Celtic have now qualified for the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers's Celtic are open to re-signing versatile attacker Jota, who was sold for a then-record fee of £25m to Al-Ittihad in 2023, before joining Rennes where he has recently been frozen out of the first team.
Oliver Thomas
