Liverpool reportedly want £40m-rated Brit that Ian Rush claimed had 'lightning' pace

By Will Butcher

Liverpool are reportedly battling four other clubs for Bournemouth attacker David Brooks ahead of Friday’s 5pm deadline after the Cherries suffered relegation to the Championship – and Ian Rush recently spoke about the player’s speed.

Brooks, 23, has endured a difficult time over the course of the last 12 months – picking up a long-term injury that overshadowed his excellent first season at Bournemouth. He scored seven goals and laid on five assists in 30 league games during 2018-19.

However, Premier League clubs have not forgotten what the Wales international is capable of. The Mail claims Liverpool are in the midst of a five-horse race with Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Leicester City and Manchester United for the Welsh star.

Rush, a Wales and Liverpool legend, was quoted back in 2017 when discussing Brooks’ pace while the winger was still at Sheffield United. Talking about Ben Woodburn and Ethan Ampadu, he also included Brooks in the discussion.

(Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

“These two lads [Ampadu and Woodburn] are going to be world class, its only injury that can stop them,” Rush told Devon Live. “I’ve seen them training with the Wales squad and they were the best players there.

“It was the same with young David Brooks. He was like lightning and that really puts the older players on their guard.”

TBR’s view – Brooks a top talent, but he needs game time

At Liverpool, it is hard to see where he is going to get regular appearances. Diogo Jota has been signed from Wolves as cover for the front three, while Jurgen Klopp also boasts Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones and more.

He needs to join a club where he is at least on the fringe of the starting eleven, not a considerable way down the pecking order. Having that game time will allow him to play catch-up after his injury, and allow him to maximise his potential.

(Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)