Liverpool are trying everything they can to keep wonderkid Josh Abe at the club amid speculation he could leave at the end of the season.
The 15-year-old has had a breakout season in the Reds academy, lighting up the U18s with his pace, skill and wonderful left foot.
But Abe’s talents are no longer a secret. There have been strong suggestions that Chelsea and Arsenal are both keen to snatch the youngster this summer.
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Alisson before Marseille vs Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
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Clearly aware of the chance he may leave, Liverpool have brought Abe into first-team training recently, an unprecedented move for a player so young.
After giving him a taste of the senior team, Arne Slot once again called Abe up for Thursday’s training session ahead of Sunday’s clash with Man City. But while there is a sense that this is simply a charm offensive from Liverpool to show Abe the pathway open to him, the teenager is likely closer to the team than some may think.
Josh Abe jumps the queue at Liverpool
Throughout his time at Liverpool Slot has faced criticism for not utilising the club’s academy enough. Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are constants when it comes to first-team training, but other youngsters have been used much more sporadically.
Thursday’s edition of Inside Training on LFCTV showed that, as ever, Ngumoha and Nyoni were involved ahead of the City game, but Abe appeared to be the only other youngster with the seniors.
Liverpool academy youngster Josh Abe runs with the ball during an U18s match against Burnley at the AXA Training Centre
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He wandered out in front of Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk and later confirmed on Instagram that he had taken part in first-team training.
To be involved ahead of such a big game is a real feather in the cap for Abe and suggests that Slot is taking a closer look at him as a genuine option in the near future.
Being so young, it is highly unlikely that Abe will make his debut this season, but he is only eight months younger than Arsenal starlet Max Dowman, and if Slot thinks he is good enough, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him feature in the FA Cup.
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Trey Nyoni in action during Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates at full-time following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park
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Will Abe stay at Liverpool?
Like Ngumoha before him, it seems to be only a matter of time before Abe makes his mark on the Liverpool first-team.
The caveat for the younger player is that he may leave the club before he gets the chance to make an impact.
Abe recently signed with the agency owned by brother of former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, suggesting he is assessing his options ahead of the summer.
Although that is perhaps not a positive sign, the hope will be that Abe has seen the chance to progress quickly at Liverpool and will decide that remaining at Anfield is the best choice for his development.
It may all be part of playing the game, but if Liverpool hand him some minutes on the back of that it will be no bad thing. Abe is at least in the eye of Slot and as other Reds youngsters will attest, that is no mean feat in itself.
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