BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: Herbie Kane of Hull City scores their third goal from a long range free kick during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
According to BBC Sport, Barnsley completed the signing of Herbie Kane from Liverpool for £1.25million on a four-year deal. Liverpool have also inserted a 15% sell-on clause in the deal. Barnsley completed this transfer along with the loan deal of Matty James.
The 21-year-old English midfielder began his youth career at Bristol City before moving to Liverpool’s academy in 2013. In the next few seasons, he progressed through the youth teams.
While he was in the U-23’s, he was sent out on loan to Doncaster Rovers in 2018. Spending the season there, he played 49 games in all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 10 assists (source – Transfermarkt).
On his return, he featured in two EFL Cup ties for Liverpool. Earlier last season, he went on a short loan spell to Hull City but only played nine games for them. He recently joined Barnsley on deadline day. The midfielder was a regular for the England youth sides but hasn’t been called up to the senior team as of now.
Liverpool have a crop of midfielders who personify Klopp’s style of play. The likes of Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson are some of the most industrious midfielders in the league and now they have added another world-class player. Thiago joined the club from Bayern Munich this season.
Add to that Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the emerging Curtis Jones, and you have a stacked midfield. Clearly, they don’t have free space to accommodate another emerging player like Kane.
This transfer was in the best interests of both the club and the player. At 21 years of age, Kane needs to play on a regular basis, especially after impressing at Doncaster Rovers. He is surely talented enough and it would be a waste of his abilities to play out another season for the reserve team.
The player would much rather be suited to first-team football and Barnsley could be a good place to start. He is a very versatile midfielder with the ability to play higher up or lower down the pitch. Barnsley could really benefit from his signing. Liverpool surely took the right decision in letting him leave.
