Report: Liverpool block loan exit for youngster Ben Woodburn

Liverpool have reportedly told clubs interested in signing Ben Woodburn on loan that the young forward will be staying at Anfield for the remainder of the season.

A clutch of Championship sides are rumoured to have shown an interest in the Wales international, whose path to the Reds' first team has been blocked this term.

Woodburn has featured just once for Liverpool at senior level in 2017-18, coming in the 2-0 EFL Cup defeat at Leicester City, and was expected to spend the second half of the campaign elsewhere.

According to The Sun, however, Jurgen Klopp has backtracked on that initial stance as he is wary of losing first-team regulars to injury, potentially opening a gap for Woodburn to shine.

Liverpool have already lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona this month, while talented midfielder Marko Grujic was loaned to Cardiff City on Wednesday.

Sunderland are understood to have been high on the list of potential suitors for Woodburn, as were second-tier rivals Leeds United.