Liverpool is in talks with Chelsea about signing 15-year-old Rio Ngumoha, one of English football’s most highly regarded young players.

Chelsea, who have consistently invested extensively in young players under Todd Boehly’s ownership, are believed to be concerned about the possibility of losing Ngumoha.

If a deal is completed, Ngumoha will come on a scholar’s contract, and he is said to be motivated by the pathway and opportunities available at Liverpool, particularly a second-string team of young players who won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea last season.

Liverpool has a strict salary structure and strategy for budding players, and it is unlikely that they will go against it to sign Ngumoha, who formerly played for Chelsea’s Under 21 squad.

It follows Liverpool’s recent trend of recruiting talented young players from around the country, as witnessed with Trey Nyoni and Amara Nallo from Leicester and West Ham, respectively, last summer. 

Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon, Ben Doak, and James McConnell were all signed in their midteens.

Following Brexit constraints on how football clubs can interchange young players, Liverpool upped its commitment in talent scouting across the United Kingdom. According to young football observers, Ngumoha is one of the best players in his age group.