Liverpool is currently engaged in a battle to hold onto one of their rising stars, as Arsenal and Chelsea show significant interest in potentially recruiting him, according to reliable sources.

Fifteen-year-old Joshua Abe has caught the attention of several elite clubs. A youth football expert has even described him as the standout player of his age group across the nation.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s academy continues to shine, highlighted by the achievements of young talents like Rio Ngumoha, who scored a dramatic last-minute goal against Newcastle in August at just 16. The ‘Kop Kids’ gained widespread acclaim in 2024 when Jurgen Klopp led the team to a Carabao Cup victory with numerous young stars.

An insider has suggested that the interest from Arsenal and Chelsea could be seen as a ‘revenge mission’, although no formal moves have been made yet.

While some might not expect Abe to immediately follow in the footsteps of Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, those close to the Liverpool academy regard him as one of the club’s most promising talents.

Liverpool youngster Joshua Abe, 15, has been described by one youth football expert as ‘the best of his age group’ across the country

The wonderkid winger has featured for England’s youth sides and is playing way above his age for Liverpool’s Under 18s

He is yet to sign scholarship terms with the Reds and Arsenal are keeping tabs on him over a potential move. It is believed that the player’s father is a lifelong fan of the Gunners, which could influence any move.

Poaching players at this age is common in youth football and many of Liverpool’s current age-group sides are made up of talents they acquired from other academies.

Abe is a winger with a love of direct, one-on-one dribbling. In five appearances for the Under 18s – he is playing way above his age – he has four goal contributions. He is also playing for England’s youth sides and has played once for Liverpool’s Under 21s.

The online account Secret Scout, which has 253,000 followers, once told Liverpool Confidential that Ngumoha was the best player of his age group. Now, he has posted: ‘In my opinion Abe is the BEST winger in the country at this age.’

Will Liverpool be busy in January?

That is the question I have been asked many times this week after talk stepped up over a potential move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.

The original plan was not for the Reds to be overly busy in the winter months but they have history for acting quick and bringing forward transfer targets if they are available in January.

Think Luis Diaz in 2022, for example, or Cody Gakpo the following winter. Both were long-term targets but ended up being signed early. In Diaz’s case, that was due to interest from rival clubs meaning Liverpool had to act fast. With Gakpo, it was due to his stellar World Cup performances in Qatar.

So there is no reason to rule the Reds out of the market in the new year.

Bournemouth main man Antoine Semenyo has been on the radar of Liverpool for some time

Marc Guehi very nearly became a Liverpool player on deadline day a few months ago and the Reds still like the Crystal Palace captain

Semenyo, as we have discussed in this column before, has been on the radar of Liverpool for some time. They liked him in the summer and although that went quiet, it was clear the Ghana international was one to watch over a future move.

Marc Guehi, likewise, was 99 per cent a Liverpool player on deadline day a few months ago. With that in mind, it is hard to deny the Reds still like the Crystal Palace captain and, judging by performances in recent weeks, they still need a defender.

Confidential wrote a month ago how Semenyo had a ‘mystery clause’ in his contract and we now know that is £65million if activated by a certain time – Bournemouth would demand around £75m if not – so Liverpool know how to get the Cherries man if they so desire.

Graham Potter and the half-fit prince

New Sweden boss Potter has a new friend in Arne Slot.

It has not quite reached the level of the Liverpool manager flying out to Stockholm for a walking tour, or the pair going for a stroll around IKEA ending up with a plate of meatballs, but the two are pals.

That is because Potter took the measured decision to rest Alexander Isak in Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night, after giving him just over half an hour in their 4-1 defeat by Switzerland earlier in the international camp.

Sweden could not qualify from their group so it was a dead-rubber but, in search of a first win after taking the job, many in Potter’s shoes may have played star man Isak, hailed as the prince of the country after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is grateful that star striker Alexander Isak wasn’t risked by Graham Potter in Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday 

Isak had played just over half an hour in Sweden’s 4-1 thumping by Sweden on the weekend

Yet Potter, with one eye on March’s play-offs – they have qualified for that through Nations League performances – decided to rest Isak, who was also walking a disciplinary tightrope.

That pleased Slot who, earlier in the season, thanked previous Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson for going easy on Isak. That was to the detriment of ‘JDT’ who ultimately lost his job, so one could have forgiven Potter for not following suit, but he did to the delight of Slot and Co.

There are not thought to be any new fitness concerns around Isak and he will be expected to join up with his Liverpool team-mates in training today.

Vitor set for victory in job search

Liverpool fans will remember the beaming smile of Portuguese coach Vitor Matos, who left alongside Jurgen Klopp in 2024.

Matos’s official job title was elite development coach and he essentially acted as the bridge between the academy and first team. His work was often publicly heralded by Klopp.

Now he is on the verge of returning to the UK after doing a fine job at Portuguese side Maritimo. Matos, who first went to Red Bull Salzburg with Klopp’s right-hand man Pep Lijnders, has held talks with Championship strugglers Swansea this week.

Former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos (left) is in line for a return to British football with Swansea

Jones’s World Cup dream still alive

England boss Thomas Tuchel will hold talks with Curtis Jones in the next fortnight after the Liverpool midfielder missed the last three international camps.

Jones has six Three Lions caps, with four of those coming this year, meaning many thought he was a good bet to make England’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.

But due to injury, plus the emergence of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton in his position for England, Jones has fallen out of favour.

It is understood he is on the list of those for Tuchel to call in the coming weeks, though, with the German poised to outline the things Jones needs to do to force his way back into the reckoning.

Curtis Jones will have talks with England boss Thomas Tuchel in the next fortnight after the Liverpool midfielder missed the last three international camps.

Alisson will sure things up

Liverpool No 1 Alisson is pencilled in to return to the starting XI this week in a welcome boost to Slot.

The Reds have been leaking goals recently and are on a run of seven defeats in the last 10, with the Brazilian missing the last eight of those matches.

Giorgi Mamardashvili deserves credit as, once he settled, the Georgian barely put a foot wrong and could not be blamed for the poor run that has seen the Reds keep just two clean sheets in the last 13 games.

But Alisson’s aura instils defenders with confidence so his return will be a big boost for Slot.

Kone-Doherty impresses again

Trent Kone-Doherty has been catching the eye all season for Liverpool’s youth sides and was rewarded with a first-team outing in the Carabao Cup last month.

He was also a standout figure for Ireland’s Under 21s against England this week.

Winger Trent Kone-Doherty has been catching the eye all season for Liverpool’s youth sides

Up against experienced players like Manchester City’s Rico Lewis when he took on England’s Under 21s this week, he caused problems and asked questions of the Young Lions back line

Up against experienced players like Manchester City’s Rico Lewis, who was his direct opponent, the left winger caused problems and asked questions of the Young Lions back line.

It is another step in the right direction for Kone-Doherty, who will look to continue a fine UEFA Youth League campaign when the young Reds take on PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday at 2pm. 

Confidential will be in attendance and you can read our verdict in next week’s column.