07 January 2024 , 12:53
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Rangers have been urged to move for Liverpool starlet Owen Beck, who is back at Anfield after impressing on loan at Dundee in the first half of the season.
Welsh defender Beck, 21, scored twice in 17 Scottish Premiership outings for Dundee before being recalled by his parent club amid injuries for Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. He won't be able to feature against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup, though, thanks to a suspension brought by bookings he received north of the border.
The youngster certainly caught the eye while on loan, though, with Liverpool not the only ones impressed by his displays. Former Rangers and Scotland star Kenny Miller, who also had a spell of his own with Dundee during his playing days, has called on Philippe Clement's side to pounce.
"In terms of his defence, I don’t expect that to be reshaped until the summer window," Miller said of Clement in his Daily Record column. He pointed to the uncertain future of several stars - including left-back Borna Barisic, who is out of contract in the summer - and argued Beck, if available, could be the kind of player to prompt the Gers to make a transfer move sooner rather than later.
"[Leon] Balogun only signed a one-year deal when he came back so the whole left side of Clement's back-line needs sorting," Miller added. "But I don’t think you can fix everything in January and, right now, it’s not a priority.
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"Don’t get me wrong, if the chance is there to sign Owen Beck from Liverpool – who has really impressed me on loan at Dundee – I’d do it. He’d be a terrific signing if he’s available. And the reason I’d do it now is to get in before someone else moves first."
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Owen Beck has been recalled by Liverpool (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)First-choice left-back Robertson hasn't featured for Liverpool since sustaining an injury on Scotland duty in mid-October, while Tsimikas picked up a setback of his own in the Premier League draw with Arsenal. Joe Gomez has deputised of late, while youngsters Luke Chambers and Callum Scanlon have both featured in the Europa League.
Now, though, Beck is poised to provide competition after being praised by Jurgen Klopp for making "big steps". “Now the situation here is clear – we lost two of our left-backs so it makes sense to bring back a boy we like who is available to us” the Reds boss added.
Klopp has also addressed the future of Nat Phillips, who is also back at Anfield after a spell in Scotland. Centre-back Phillips joined Celtic on loan towards the end of the summer transfer window but made just eight appearances for the Scottish Premiership leaders.
“We have to consider our own situation and stuff like this,” Klopp said when speaking about the 26-year-old. “He will definitely be with us until the end of the month and then we will have talks and see our situation, that’s how it is."