Liverpool is in a tussle to retain one of their most promising young talents, amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
Emerging reports suggest that several top-tier clubs are keeping tabs on 15-year-old prodigy Joshua Abe. Born in July 2010, Abe has already made five appearances for Liverpool's U18 team this season, netting two goals and providing two assists.
A direct winger with a penchant for one-on-one situations and finding the back of the net, Abe also boasts an England U16 cap and has featured once for the U21 team at club level. Chelsea is among the clubs monitoring Abe's progress, with its interest being dubbed as a revenge mission following Rio Ngumoha's switch in the opposite direction, according to the Daily Mail.
Ngumoha, 17, traded Stamford Bridge for Anfield in 2024, much to the chagrin of the London club, who subsequently banned Liverpool scouts from attending academy games at its Cobham training base.
Despite not yet making his first-team debut, many within the academy circles believe Abe is one of the most thrilling youngsters on Liverpool's roster.
He hasn't yet put pen to paper on a scholarship contract with the Reds, leading to Chelsea, Arsenal, and several other top clubs maintaining a keen interest in his situation.
Joshua Abe in action for England Under 16s in the summer
Joshua Abe in action for England Under 16s in the summer (Image: Getty Images)
It's also rumored that Abe's father is a lifelong Arsenal supporter, which could sway any potential move. Signing players from rival teams at this age is commonplace, and some of Liverpool's current youth sides comprise players from other academies.
The online account Secret Scout, which boasts 253,000 followers, declared: "In my opinion, Abe is the BEST winger in the country at this age."
This represents a significant statement given the emergence of Arsenal's Max Dowman, 15, who has caught the eye in the club's senior squad following his breakthrough earlier this campaign.
Liverpool academy sensation Ngumoha found the net from the substitutes' bench during his Premier League debut against Newcastle in August.
He has subsequently featured six more times for the Reds this term, including once in the Champions League.
"He's a player that can finish really well for his age," Slot said after Ngumoha scored in the win at Newcastle. "How firm his shot was, you don't see this often for a 16-year-old.
"I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won't say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off. But he is so confident.
"That's what I like, because the first ball he got he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on. When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age, he is an amazing finisher."