Liverpool will benefit financially from the deal. The financial benefits include a bonus if Sheffield United gains promotion to the Premier League.
When Ben Davies signed for Liverpool earlier in the year, he must have known that to break into the first eleven of a team like Liverpool, stacked with experience and talent, would take a miracle.
The 26-year-old Cumbria native joined Liverpool from Preston North End on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, reported to be an initial fee of £500,000, plus £1.1m in performance-related add-ons.
Six months down the line and the Fleetwood Town loanee is on his way out of Anfield. The player who is fast turning into an experienced loan player has been loaned out again to Sheffield United. During his brief stint at Anfield, he made no appearances for the club.
Injury crisis at Liverpool forced Davies signing
Late last year, Liverpool saw their title ambitions go off the rails with a rash of injuries. The team saw their defence decimated by injuries and had to find a way around the situation. Defence lynchpin Virgil van Dijk was out for several months with a knee injury, only returning to the team this season.
Other players who were on the treatment table are Joe Gomez (knee), Joel Matip (ankle) and Jordan Henderson (adductor). The crisis set Liverpool back, and to keep alive any hope of making it to Europe, they had to go into the market.
If Davies didn't get a look in while these players were out, their return only makes his Liverpool chance slimmer. With little chance of getting game time, Liverpool acceded to Sheffield's interest in the player.
Liverpool dictate the loan terms
The Anfield giants, despite having no space in the team for Davies, still see him as a player who could be useful.
Sheffield United had previously made an offer for the services of Ben Davies. Liverpool turned down the offer due to the unwillingness of the Blades to have a purchase option in the move. With the loan move formally agreed, Liverpool will benefit financially with an undisclosed fee attached to it as reported by Goal. Liverpool are also due a bonus if Sheffield United win promotion back to the Premier League.
Wanted by other clubs
The Sheffield boss Slavisa Jokanovicboss Slavisa Jokanovic is a big fan of Ben Davies, who has experience from loan spells at York, Tranmere, Southport, Newport and Fleetwood. He was able to push through the transfer that will now bring Davies to South Yorkshire.
Celtic and Bournemouth had shown interest in the player before he joined Liverpool. They renewed their interest in the defender once he was available again. They are not the only clubs that showed interest; an unnamed Premier League side also made enquiries.
20-year-old centre-back Sepp van den Berg has already been loaned to Preston this summer by the Reds. Another departure for Liverpool could also come in the form of Shaqiri, who could be on his way out of the club.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
