Staff within the Liverpool academy set-up expect Leighton Clarkson to secure another loan transfer after cutting short his stay with Blackburn Rovers, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Clarkson returned to Merseyside at the start of the month after failing to break through at Ewood Park. The 20-year-old had re-joined his boyhood club in August with the intention of securing regular senior minutes. But he only amassed 328 over seven outings, starting four.
Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray also left Clarkson as an unused substitute in Rovers’ last six Championship fixtures before his recall. The midfielder last opened a match on October 19 and last featured on November 20. He also only played in back-to-back fixtures two times.
Clarkson could now leave Liverpool in another loan transfer before the market slams shut next Monday. Staff within the Reds’ academy also expect the Clitheroe-born talent will seal another temporary switch for the rest of the term to secure what he did not at Blackburn.
Liverpool to consider Clarkson offers carefully before transfer deadline hits
Liverpool will take a studious approach to any offers for Clarkson’s temporary transfer to avoid repeating his Blackburn spell. The defensive midfielder is at a stage where he needs regular first-team minutes, but has only featured three times under Jurgen Klopp to date.
Only one of Clarkson’s senior Liverpool outings came last term, too. But the England U20 international impressed Klopp with what he showed in a pre-season friendly with Osasuna.
“How Leighton Clarkson showed up when he came on!’ he said, via quotes by the Metro. “He is not the tallest, but he has a big heart and played super football.
“So, when he plays as a No6, he can win challenges. He may not get up in the air, but he can play along the ground. I really liked it tonight. It was really good and how it should be.”
Liverpool may have to consider offers from below the Championship to secure Clarkson a loan transfer where he will play regularly, having failed to put much on tape at Blackburn.
Clubs battling Rovers for promotion will likely question if the youngster can break into their squads in the coming months. While clubs fighting at the other end of the second-tier table may prefer to turn to proven options for survival.
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