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Liverpool will run another check on the progress of Conor Bradley and Owen Beck today – but Ian Evatt sees no reason why they won’t stay with Wanderers for the rest of the season.
Several reports this week have claimed the Anfield youngsters have been given the all-clear to remain with the Whites despite interest from a handful of Championship clubs.
Liverpool do have the option to recall Bradley and Beck in January but Evatt – who has always remained steadfast in his belief that the pair would stay – believes their progress has not gone unnoticed down the East Lancashire Road.
The Reds’ director of loan management, David Woodfine, is scheduled to visit Lostock today to check on the two young talents.
“All I can say is the messaging we’ve had from Liverpool is really consistent throughout and they want him to be here for the remainder of the season. From what I understand from Conor, he loves this place, he loves being with us and wants to be a part of it for the remainder of the season,” Evatt said.
“I don’t envisage that changing. If it does it does and that’s out of our hands. I spoke last week about controlling the controllables and that for us now is kind of out of our hands a little bit.
“But all we’ve done is show Conor and Liverpool that we are a trusted ally and that we can develop and help their players grow and I think we’ve done that for Conor and we’ll certainly do that for Owen Beck as well.”
Bradley has had a positive influence on the Wanderers squad since making the move from Liverpool in the summer and was joined on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window by his team-mate Beck.
The Northern Ireland international’s form has drawn interest from elsewhere – with Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe making a personal check on him in October – but Evatt has remained confident Bradley and Beck would stay under his control to the end of the season.
“When we bought Conor in, it was to give him the platform to have a full season of men’s football and to have a good season, a successful season, and somewhere he can grow and develop,” he said.
“I don’t see why the plans should change because we’ve stuck to our half of the bargain. I don’t think that’s right or fair but that’s Liverpool’s decision and all we can do is show them our best and I think we’ve done that.
“We’ve got a really good relationship with Liverpool, the loans manager is coming to visit us on Thursday, not for any other reason but to see the boys and see how we’re getting on. We have a fantastic relationship with them.
“I think both sides are happy with how things are going and would want that to continue.”
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