Liverpool are actively looking to loan starlets Ryan Kent and Danny Ward to the Championship next season, with Jurgen Klopp more familiar with English football’s set-up.
Last term, he recalled most of our teenagers on-loan at lower league teams, but has now realised with the shoddy Under-21 competitions not offering proper preparation for a Premier League career, a temporary switch is best to get youngsters minutes.
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This is according to Paul Joyce in the Express, who also claims Crystal Palace are close to signing Christian Benteke for £31.5m.
In 2015/16, Ward shone at Aberdeen and Kent at Coventry, and did well when called upon following Klopp’s recall, too.
But with no European football next season, their chance of playing for the first-team looks slim. Simon Mignolet and new German signing Loris Karius are ahead of Ward in the goalkeeping pecking order, while winger Kent would have to usurp new £30m flyer Sadio Mane, returning Serb Lazar Markovic, Jordon Ibe, Sheyi Ojo and Adam Lallana.
At 23 and 19 respectively, both can forge themselves careers at Liverpool, but this coming season will be pivotal. They’ll have to become automatic selections at their loan clubs and consistently show they’re capable of playing at a level much higher.