Has Jurgen Klopp handed Sunderland and Leeds United hope over Ben Woodburn?

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Championship duo Leeds United and Sunderland are reportedly hoping to lure Ben Woodburn away from Liverpool on a short-term loan deal.

Ben Woodburn might have broken Michael Owen’s record by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history but the 18-year-old’s career is yet to really take off like the club’s legendary number ten.

Woodburn has made just one appearance in the first-team this season, coming in the EFL Cup defeat to Leicester City, and The Sun reports that he is being targeted by up to four Championship clubs ahead of a potential loan move in January.

Sunderland manager Chris Coleman handed Woodburn his debut for Wales back in September and the striker rewarded him with a stunning winner against Austria. Now, the report claims that Coleman has made a reunion with the teenager his main priority at the Stadium of Light.

Leeds United are also reportedly keen and, with Thomas Christiansen’s side in an excellent position to fight for promotion, they appear to be the most attractive destination. Preston and Norwich are also in the race.

And Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appears to have given suitors a shred of hope when discussing the prospect of Woodburn, and Liverpool’s other game-seeking youngsters, spending time away from Anfield in 2018.

“We will see,” Klopp said in quotes reported by The Mirror (live transfer blog, 11.19am). “These boys are all really close, much closer than you can see when I do the squad.

“We have to decide at one point if it makes sense that they stay. For a lot of them, it makes sense that they stay here because we need them. For a few, maybe it makes a little bit less sense.

“We will see and nothing is decided so far. We will see which clubs are asking and then we have to make a decision whether it is good for the boy or not and all these things.”

A short-term spell at Sunderland or Leeds would surely be beneficial to Woodburn, who is well down the pecking order at Liverpool right now.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga is the only Leeds striker who has scored this season but the jury remains out while Sunderland’s lack of depth means Woodburn should find first-team football easy to come by on Wearside.