Scout Report – David Brooks
Liverpool are monitoring the progress of 20-year-old David Brooks, who plays for Championship side Sheffield United, according to few reports.
Reports claim that Liverpool are not the only ones watching the starlet, with Everton also interested in the starlet. The youngster’s performances for Sheffield United this season have caught the attention of a number of Premier League clubs.
However, with the Reds leading the £10m race to sign Welsh midfielder, let’s take a close look at who David Brooks really is and what he will bring to the table.
Origin
Born on 8 July 1997 in Warrington, England, Brooks joined the Manchester City academy as a 7-year-old kid in 2004. After ten long years with City, he joined Sheffield United academy in 2014 and signed a professional contract with the club a year later.
At the start of the 2015-16 season, he spent two months away on loan with National League side Halifax Town, for whom he scored once in five games. On August 30, 2016, manager Chris Wilder gave Brooks his first team debut as he made a 63rd minute substitute appearance for Matt Done in a 0-0 draw against Leicester City U-23 side in the EFL Trophy.
Brooks played a game in the FA Cup for the Blades, but did not make his League One debut, which his team won to earn promotion to the EFL Championship.
In May this year, given the fact that he is eligible to represent both England and Wales, after being born in Warrington, Brooks opted to play for England U-20s in the Toulon Tournament in France. The midfielder scored in the final, guiding England to glory. He was also named the Best Player of the Tournament.
Such has been the case of Brooks’ sudden rise as he’s already been recognised at international level too and after opting to represent Wales, he received his first call-up from Chris Coleman for the senior squad in October for two World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland. However, his dream to play in the World Cup got shattered as Wales failed to qualify.
What Does He Offer?
Primarily a central attacking midfielder by trade, Brooks has mostly been used in a wide role on the right by Wilder so far in the senior team. Blessed with pace, great technique, intelligent movement and a spiky eye for a pass, the Welsh midfielder is skilled at linking up play in the attacking third with great ease and seems to be a step ahead of the opposition on most occasions.
A versatile player, Brooks has the ability to hit crisp through-balls in behind the defence and long-balls from out wide. The 20-year-old is diminutive in stature and is not physically robust, but with Sheffield, he is making giant leaps, having burst onto the scene this term with some dazzling displays.
What Does The Future Hold?
It is believed that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool admire Brooks after his recent exploits with the Blades. Liverpool’s interest amidst other Premier League clubs’ is justifiable but they will be aware of the fact that Sheffield may not be willing to let go of their star prodigy.
If the move happens, the dynamic midfielder will not walk into the first-team. However, he would be a welcome addition at Liverpool. Given Klopp’s history of nurturing talents in Germany and currently at Anfield, Brooks will definitely be in good hands.