Liverpool are facing a battle to keep hold of one of their most promising young players amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea - with the Blues said to be on a 'revenge mission'
Liverpool are reportedly in a tug-of-war to retain one of their brightest young talents amid interest from Premier League rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea. Joshua Abe has caught the attention of several other top-flights teams on the back of his displays for the Merseyside club's academy teams.
Born in July 2010, the 15-year-old prodigy has already made five appearances for Liverpool's Under-18s this season, netting two goals and setting up two more. A dynamic winger who thrives on one-on-one situations and getting into the box to score, Abe is also an England Under-16 international and has also featured once for the Under-21s at club level.
Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on Abe's development, with their interest being dubbed a 'revenge mission', according to the Daily Mail. That's following Rio Ngumoha's switch to Liverpool back in 2024.
Ngumoha, now 17, traded Stamford Bridge for Anfield last year. That's to the irritation of the west London outfit, who subsequently banned Liverpool scouts from attending academy games at their Cobham training base.
Despite not yet making his first-team debut, many within the academy believe Abe is one of the most promising youngsters in Liverpool's ranks. But Abe hasn't signed a scholarship contract with the Reds yet, which has piqued the interest of Chelsea, Arsenal and several other top clubs.
It's also rumoured Abe's father is a lifelong Arsenal supporter, which could sway any potential move. It's common practice to poach players at this age, while some of Liverpool's current youth teams consist of players from other academies.
The popular online account Secret Scout, boasting 253,000 followers, declared: "In my opinion, Abe is the BEST winger in the country at this age."
This is a significant statement given the rise of Arsenal's 15-year-old sensation Max Dowman, who has been turning heads with his performances for the Gunners' first-team since making his debut earlier this season.
Liverpool's academy prodigy Ngumoha made an impact on his Premier League debut against Newcastle in August, coming off their subs bench to score the winning goal in a 3-2 victory at St James' Park. Since then, he has made six more appearances for the Reds this season, including a Champions League outing.
"He's a player that can finish really well for his age," Liverpool boss Arne Slot said after Ngumoha scored in the win over 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's 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's an amazing finisher."