Middlesbrough are the favourites to secure the loan signing of Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo with the Reds preferring to send him to a Championship club this summer, according to a Sky journalist.
Kieth Downey, the North East reporter for Sky Sports News HQ, claimed on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday that Boro are ahead of their local rivals Newcastle in securing the 20-year-old’s signature on a temporary deal.
We understand Middlesbrough are favourites to land Sheyi Ojo on loan from Liverpool. Newcastle keen but Liverpool would prefer a Champ club.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 11, 2017
This news comes just a day after Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope had poured cold water on the Magpies’ move for the Liverpool man, stating that the Reds’ demands for the loan deal were “too high”.
An England Under-20 international, wide man Ojo was part of the squad which triumphed at this year’s Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, taking part in five of their games.
A fringe player at Liverpool, the youngster has worked his way up through the youth ranks since joining as a 14-year-old from MK Dons, and has gone on to make eight senior appearances for the club, picking up three assists.
Contracted at Anfield until 2020, he suffered a back injury which kept him out of action at the start of the last season, although he did recover to take part in their FA Cup clashes with Plymouth Argyle in January.
Newcastle are known to be in the market for a pacey winger, despite having already secured a permanent move for Christian Atsu from Chelsea, and have been linked with Boro’s Adama Traore over recent days.