According to Sky Sports, Fulham have agreed a loan deal with Liverpool for NUFC target Sheyi Ojo, with the England U-21 now set to decide between Newcastle, Fulham and Middlesbrough as to where he’ll play his football next season.
Rafa Benitez is believed to be an admirer of Ojo and the Liverpool winger looks set to be sent out on loan this summer to gain some much needed first team football.
Sky Sources: Fulham have agreed a deal with Liverpool for Sheyi Ojo on loan. Player must now decide between them, Middlesbrough & Newcastle.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 18, 2017
It has been confirmed that we, Fulham and Middlesbrough have all submitted loan offers for the 20-year old, however it’s being suggested on Merseyside that Liverpool could favour him moving to the Championship, believing he would be guaranteed regular game time with Fulham and Middlesbrough.
Can you blame them? I don’t think so. If Ojo joined Newcastle, he’d be competing with Ritchie, Atsu, Murphy and Aarons, meaning Benitez would almost certainly be unable to guarantee him a starting berth, which, for Ojo and Liverpool, is clearly a big problem:
I think more about #LFC concern about getting him enough game time at PL Newcastle to make loan work for him and them
— Andy Kelly (@AndyK_LivNews) July 18, 2017
With us all set to announce the £12m signing of Norwich’s Jacob Murphy today, fans may be wondering why we are chasing yet another winger, however it has been confirmed in recent days that Newcastle are looking for one more in the wide areas following Yoan Gouffran and Sammy Ameobi’s exits this summer.
Ojo looks a talent, and would be a useful impact player, but that in itself highlights just why Fulham and Middlesbrough could have the edge over us on this one. They can guarantee Ojo regular playing time – they key for any young player going out on loan – and with that in mind, I expect him to join one of the two over ourselves.