Reds in scramble for 'next Rooney'

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea will be involved in an unprecedented scramble to sign 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham from Ipswich in January.

Wickham, the youngest first-team player in Ipswich's history, is regarded in the game as the most exciting young Englishman to emerge since Wayne Rooney.
 
He added to his fast-growing reputation with a hat-trick for England Under-17s a fortnight ago and Roy Keane's club fear he may be lured away before he can sign a professional contract in March.
 
The Premier League's Big Four are all chasing him - the first time that has happened with a teenager in England - with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both taking a keen interest, while Aston Villa and Tottenham are also trying to get him.
 
A club source said: 'Whenever Wickham is down to play for the first team or reserves, two dozen scouts emerge out of nowhere to watch him. The consensus is he's as good as Rooney was at that age but is a lot bigger.'
 
Colchester-born Wickham is already 6ft 3in and has still to agree a contract at Ipswich, leaving them vulnerable to approaches from the big clubs. Although Ipswich would be in line for compensation, a fee would have to be decided by tribunal should all parties be unable to agree a figure.
 
In 2008 Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan said he felt 'mugged and brutalised' after being awarded just £700,000 when John Bostock left the Championship club to join Spurs.
 
Bostock yesterday scored twice for Brentford, where he is on loan from Spurs, in the 2-2 draw against Millwall in their League One match at Griffin Park. 
 
Wickham became Ipswich's youngest player when he made his debut against Doncaster Rovers last season aged just 16 years and 11 days.
 
He scored his first senior goals in the Carling Cup against Shrewsbury this season and, although manager Keane has used him mainly as a substitute, he is likely to start at home to Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday as Ipswich chase only their second win of the season.
 
Wickham, who can officially turn professional only on his 17th birthday on March 31, scored a hat-trick in 21 minutes for England in the UEFA Under 17s Championship in a 4-0 win against Azerbaijan in Baku, helping to book his country's place in next year's elite round.
 
Keane has been trying to shield the player against high expectations, but the Irishman did say: 'Connor is a great talent, there's no doubt about that.'
 
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