Ben Woodburn is on the verge of signing for League One side Oxford United according to reports.
The 19-year-old Wales international broke through at first-team level for the Reds a couple of years ago with a goal against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup, but his progress has stalled since then and he has failed to kick on.
There is still time for him given his age, but he does need his next move to work out.
Ben Woodburn set to join Oxford United in League One on loan. #LFC hope working under Scouse boss Karl Robinson will be beneficial.
— Danny Gallagher (@Danny7Gallagher) July 29, 2019
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A move to the third tier, though, is a shock: most people would have expected him to go to the Championship.
Woodburn is a technically gifted individual but does not have the speed or physicality of a Premier League player as of yet. That perhaps explains why he isn’t going to the tough Championship, to allow him a bit more time to develop physically first.
There is also the benefit of working under Karl Robinson, a former Liverpool Academy coach, who the Reds already have a good relationship with.
Hopefully, the switch works out for the talented teenager and he can get back to progressing into the player we’ve seen glimpses of in a red shirt so far – he’s certainly got talent.