Chelsea 'plots transfer hijack' as Liverpool could miss out on teenage wonderkid

Liverpool and Manchester United have both submitted bids for Sheffield Wednesday's Yisa Alao, but Chelsea are reportedly preparing to enter the race and may even offer a higher fee.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool and Manchester United could be beaten to the signing of Sheffield Wednesday's exciting left-back Yisa Alao, with Chelsea reportedly poised to make a move. The 17-year-old has been catching the eye in the Championship through his recent displays for the beleaguered club.

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have reportedly already submitted bids for the young prospect. Nevertheless, they may encounter fierce competition from Chelsea, who is rumored to be preparing to surpass their competitors' offers.

Alao has broken into Sheffield Wednesday's first team this season and has been presented with his inaugural professional contract. However, he appears reluctant to pledge his future to Hillsborough, creating an opening for other clubs to intervene.

Whilst Liverpool's offer remains confidential, it's understood that United have proposed approximately £400,000 ($540,000) plus considerable add-ons. Chelsea, meanwhile, is said to be readying itself to table £600,000 ($810,000), alongside substantial performance-related bonuses according to the same report.

Alao's choice will probably depend on the career prospects that the interested clubs can offer. His emergence at Sheffield Wednesday coincides with a turbulent spell for the club

The Owls were thrown into administration last October and have been slapped with an 18-point penalty by the EFL. The financial chaos has also led to unpaid salaries and the club being forced to depend on young players to complete their Championship fixtures.

A consortium led by James Bord has been selected as the preferred bidder, edging a takeover closer to completion. The process is now awaiting final approval.

At present, Wednesday find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Championship table, with a woeful -7 points. Alao has been given a chance following Harry Amass' return to Manchester United.

The left-back spent the opening half of the campaign on loan with the Owls, where he caught the eye with his displays. He has since returned to Old Trafford, where a decision will be made regarding his short-term future.

Liverpool is one of the teams said to have bid for Sheffield Wednesday's Yisa Alao.(Image: James Fearn, Getty Images)

Wednesday are eager to prolong the arrangement until the end of the season. But they face competition from other Championship sides who are anticipated to be capable of offering a superior financial package to United.

Alao made his maiden senior appearance in the FA Cup third-round clash against Brentford earlier this month. He was subsequently named in the starting XI for last weekend's Championship encounter against Portsmouth.

Liverpool and United, meanwhile, have endured a subdued transfer window so far. Defender Mor Talla Ndiaye represents the only new addition at Anfield this month, with the 18 year old poised to join the club's U21 squad as he progresses his development.

Players like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa have been speculated to be heading for the exit door, but a departure this month appears unlikely at present. Thus far, the sole confirmed exit at Liverpool is young prospect James Norris, who transferred to Shelbourne on New Year's Day.

United haven't completed any January business yet, with neither arrivals nor departures materialising. Toby Colleyer's return from his loan spell at West Brom represents the only development of significance confirmed this month, despite ongoing speculation linking United with players including Ruben Neves, Joao Gomes, Yan Dimonade and Barcelona star Marc Casado.