In recent months, those who keep close tabs on Liverpool’s academy have been concerned about the future of 15-year-old wonderkid forward Josh Abe, with rumblings that he wasn’t entirely happy with his opportunities and rumours that Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United were all looking to poach him.
Today, Liverpool appear to have fended off that interest, with Abe agreeing a scholarship offer from the club that includes terms on a senior contract he will sign when he turns 17 next July.
While he can’t sign a senior deal until he does turn 17, there are suggestions Liverpool’s rivals were committing to wages as high a £50k per week.
Abe suffered a knee injury while on duty with England’s youth internationals earlier in the year but he is expected to be fit in time for pre-season and is currently expected to take part in Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States, which if true would certainly put proof to just how highly rated the youngster is.
As part of that, Abe, who has been at the club since he was four years old, has been given an official squad number and will wear #40 for at least the next few seasons when he gets his chances with the first team and is expected to spend most of his time next season training and playing at the U18 level in the academy.
