Liverpool teenager Josh Abe has been linked with several Premier League clubs.
Liverpool are still trying to convince one of their most exciting prospects to commit his future.
The Reds are trying to persuade Josh Abe to sign a new deal. The 15-year-old has recently trained with Arne Slot’s side, while he represented the under-19s in UEFA Youth League defeat at the hands MSK Zilina earlier this month.
At under-18s level, the winger has been in prolific form, plundering eight goals and two assists in 10 appearances. The highlight was a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory over Leeds United.
Abe is currently away with England under-16s in Turkey, playing in a tournament against Denmark, France and Spain. He has netted three times in five appearances for the Young Lions, whose head coach is former Liverpool under-21s boss Barry Lewtas.
However, Abe has yet to commit his future to Liverpool. He will be of first-year scholarship age next season but if no agreement is reached by 1 June, he can hold talks with rival clubs. According to The Athletic, Premier League rivals are keeping a close eye. Abe has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea in recent months.
Per The Athletic, scholars at Liverpool earn around £1,200 per month but there will be talks about how much Abe could be paid when he is able to sign his first professional contract aged 17. Liverpool typically pay £52,000 per year plus bonuses, with the reasoning to keep players hungry but there are ‘exceptions to the rule’.
Rival clubs would be ‘prepared to offer more guaranteed riches’ for Abe, whose playing style has been compared to Reds legend Sadio Mane. “There’s not a club in this country who wouldn’t want Josh Abe,” said one of the teenager’s former coaches.
Abe recently signed with the agency PLG, which is co-owned by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brother, Tyler. The youngster was taken to Real Madrid to watch a victory over Seville and met Los Blancos star Vinicius Jr.
If Abe does decide to depart, having been at Liverpool since he was four, the club would be entitled to a training compensation fee. The Reds had to pay Chelsea £2.8 million, which could rise to £6.8 million, after poaching Rio Ngumoha.
But if Abe were to cross borders and complete a move to Madrid or another European club, the fee would be significantly lower.
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