Transfer News: Ben Woodburn set to leave Liverpool this summer as a free agent
Jurgen Klopp described Ben Woodburn as an ‘exciting talent‘ back in November 2016 when he put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club.
Later that same month, he came off the bench to score against Leeds United in the EFL Cup quarter-final to become the club’s youngest ever goalscorer. His strike to make the scoreline 2-0 on the night eclipsed the great Michael Owen’s record by 98 days.
But things went real awry, real fast from next season onwards. And it seems like his time at LFC has run its course, with the Express claiming that the 22-year-old forward ‘will depart’ Liverpool this summer at the end of his contract.
He has spent time out on loan at teams such as Sheffield United, Oxford United, Blackpool, and most recently, Hearts in Scotland. Having managed only 11 senior appearances for the Reds, it is safe to say there is no future for him at LFC.
Woodburn’s last senior appearance for us came back in September of 2017. Hearts manager Robbie Nelson has also apparently made his intentions known that he wants to sign the Welshman, who has 11 senior caps for his country, on a permanent basis.
It is perhaps for the best. There is no way Jurgen Klopp suddenly starts trusting Woodburn with first-team minutes after overlooking him for nearly four and a half years. It is best if he goes elsewhere to get regular minutes.
At 22, his career is arguably only getting started. If he climbs his way to the top of the sport in a few years, not many people would be happier for him than Liverpool fans themselves.
He had the talent and the potential but it looks like Anfield isn’t the place for him. Many talented youth players come and go- most forgotten by the fanbase over the span of a few years.
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But he has had memorable moments with the Reds as a teenager, which is what the player and our fans should take away from his stint on Merseyside.
