Liverpool are in talks to poach one of English football's most highly-rated young talents from Chelsea, with 15-year-old Rio Ngumoha weighing up joining the Merseyside club.

Chelsea, who under Todd Boehly’s ownership have consistently spent big money on youngsters, are said to be furious at the prospect of losing Ngumoha.

If a deal was struck, Ngumoha will join on a scholar’s contract and he is said to be motivated by the pathway and opportunities on offer at Liverpool – most notably a second-string team of youngsters winning the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea last season.

Liverpool have a strict wage policy and strategy for young starlets and it is unlikely they will be breaking this to sign Ngumoha, who has already played for Chelsea’s Under 21s side.

It follows the trend of Liverpool poaching talented youngsters from around the country, such as Trey Nyoni and Amara Nallo from Leicester and West Ham respectively last summer. 

Liverpool are hopeful of signing 15-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea

Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon, Ben Doak and James McConnell have all been signed in their mid-teens.

After Brexit regulations changed the way football clubs can trade young players, Liverpool have stepped up investments in talent spotting across Britain. Youth football observers suggest that Ngumoha is one of the best of his age group.