Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is ready to outbid Chelsea for Seyi Ojo – the 14-year-old recently linked with a £2million move to the Blues.
Midfielder Ojo, who is playing well above his age-group level for MK Dons and England, has been tipped to sign for Chelsea.
However, Liverpool are desperate to nab him as part of a push to recruit the best domestic talent around, and they are further down the line with negotiations than their rivals, according to top sources.
Liverpool will offer more money up front than Chelsea have done and hope they can convince the player he has a better chance of progress with them.
A star of the future in the making, Milton Keynes Dons 14-year-old Academy player Seyi Ojo has been selected for England's under-16 training camp in August, as part of a 40-man team bidding to be in the England set-up for the Victory Shield.
The young central midfielder has been at the Dons since 2007 and has excelled, being recognised on a national level, and more impressively, he will be playing in an England schoolboy's setup that is one year above his age group.
Seyi, brought to the Club by Ian Marven who also spotted the talent of Sam Baldock as a 14-year-old, is the only player based in League One and one of very few from outside of the Premier League to receive a selection for the England camp, but the focused maestro isn't daunted by the opportunity.
Seyi said: "I was very excited and surprised. Being one of the youngest is a bit of added pressure but it is also a bit of an advantage."
With a great volume of support behind him, few are more proud than assistant academy manager Dan Micciche, who is more than confident in Seyi's ability.
Dan said: "We are very proud of Seyi, he has been excellent. He is very loyal and grounded, and he has great support from us and from his family."
Even though he will face the young stars from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, Seyi is no stranger to playing at a standard higher than his own age group.
Dan added: "No doubt he can handle to pressure. At 13 he made his debut for the under-18s and was playing for the under-16s and he dealt with the comfortably. He is young but he has a wealth of experience playing against older lads."
On top of making appearances for the youth team, Seyi was really thrown into the deep end and given a great opportunity to prepare for the England camp by training with Karl Robinson and the first team last Monday.
Seyi's selection is a great reflection of the hard work and effort the likes of Dan and Mike Dove, Director of Youth, have put into the future of MK Dons.
Mike said: "It is really pleasing to see Seyi progress into the England group and as our first MK Academy player to be selected we know Seyi will be the first of many from the high quality we have in our Academy."
The Dons Academy is gaining well deserved recognition already for the likes of Sam Baldock, Adam Chicksen, Daniel Powell, George Baldock and Tom Flanagan who have all worked their way into the first team set up from the Academy.
A level headed young man, Seyi's composure both on and off the field is what sets him apart from the rest, and this could prove vital going into the training camp that was the career starter for such England stars as Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and many more.
With the focus and tranquility that is magnified by his quiet nature, it wouldn't be too farfetched to liken him to these stars, as he says: "The professional players that I want to be like in the future are Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas."
A clear Spanish theme in his future ambitions, but few would mind seeing that level of play from Seyi at stadiummk in the future.
Dons manager Karl Robinson was at the B2Net Stadium in Chesterfield to watch Ojo make his England debut, heaping praise on the teenager.
“He’s a talent,” Robinson said. “I was so proud of him. I spoke to his parents after the game, and they were overjoyed.
“You forget he’s still only 14. He’s as good as I’ve seen. I worked at Liverpool Academy for six or seven years and I’ve seen some of the best players come through that system, and he is one of them.
“He has an arrogance and a bit of class about him that is unplayable.
“People are talking about him already and he’s probably one of the best in the country. I’m sure the big clubs will come knocking.
“He has got an ability to bring the game to his pace. If he wants it to be quick, he’ll make it quick.
“That’s a maturity beyond his years, he’s technically gifted, he’s an athlete, but there is so much more for him to do.”
And despite his age, Robinson already believes that Ojo could make an impact in the first team at Dons, and says he will be in the team as soon as he is old enough, provided he doesn’t leave for Chelsea of another top flight club.
Robinson added: “The day that he’s old enough, he will be in my squad. That’s how good he is. He’s still a long way off yet.
“I told his parents not to let him be one of many, but to be the best. He showed with the best players in the country that he can hold his own.
"At 14 years of age, for the media to be wrapped up in figures and clubs like they are at the moment, it's only putting the boy in an uncomfortable situation," said Robinson. "But, if he keeps developing as he is, he will be a top player.
"The boy is a talent and will play at the highest level one day.
"It's just like West Ham coming in for Sam Baldock. When you're talented, people want you."
Seyi Ojo's impressive international debut has earned him another call up to the England Under-16s squad for their upcoming Victory Shield game against Wales.
The 14-year-old Dons midfielder picked up his first cap in the 3-1 win over Northern Ireland earlier this month, coming off the bench to set up the third goal.
His overall display in that victory sparked a flurry of interest in the youngster, with former England defender Gareth Southgate, who is now head of elite development at the Football Association, commenting on Seyi through the social media network Twitter, and earned him another place in Kenny Swain's 18-man team for the game which takes place on Thursday 27th October at Cheltenham's Abbey Business Stadium.
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers - Dan Atkinson (Leeds United), Alex Palmer (West Bromwich Albion)
Defenders - Arlen Birch (Everton), Max Clarke (Hull City), Niall Heaton (Liverpool), Kodi Lyons-Foster (Tottenham Hotspur), Bryn Morris (Middlesbrough), Ben O'Hanlon (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Midfielders - Reece Alassani (Crystal Palace), Charlie Cockett (Chelsea), Dan Crowley (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (West Ham United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Oluwaseyi Ojo (MK Dons)
Forwards - Alex Gilliead (Newcastle United), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Alex Kiwomya (Chelsea), Jerome Sinclair (Liverpool)
