Liverpool left-back Owen Beck has been touted for a potential summer loan deal which would be a logical step after a stellar campaign for the Welshman.
Beck was, arguably, Liverpool’s best academy player throughout the past season, thriving in an attacking role at left-back.
The 19-year-old has made 20 appearances for the Under-23s in Premier League 2 and made six appearances for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League, while training regularly alongside the first team.
That experience under Jurgen Klopp led to two exits at senior level – both off the bench – as he faced Preston and Leicester in the League Cup.
With Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas firmly in place as first-team options, however, it will be difficult for Beck to break in long-term, although certainly not impossible given his huge potential.
It seems logical that a loan, perhaps in the league or in Ligue 1, is the next step in his career development.
Goal’s Neil Jones has listed Beck among those considering a temporary switch, along with Leighton Clarkson, Sepp van den Berg and Rhys Williams.
This should also be the case for his full-back partner, with the Echo of Liverpool speculation that the imminent arrival of Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen will see the departure of 18-year-old Conor Bradley on loan.
Although they are both still particularly young, pursuing regular first-team football would certainly suit Beck and Bradley as elite academy talents.
Bradley is already a fixture in the Northern Ireland national team, while Beck has broken through as a starter for Wales Under-21s and is expected to follow in Neco Williams’ footsteps.
Finding the right club would be paramount, however, as the loan failures for Clarkson and Williams proved in the first half of 2021/22.
Clarkson made seven appearances for Blackburn before returning to Liverpool in January, while Williams’ time with Swansea was cut short after the same number of outings.