Liverpool have made Town an £8 million offer for striker Connor Wickham, according to a number of national newspapers. The Reds have long been linked with the 18-year-old with their director of football strategy Damien Comolli at the Hull City match in February.
If the reports prove to be true, it’s unlikely a bid of that size would be enough to tempt the Blues and at least one paper claims the offer has already been turned down. A figure of between £10 million and £15 million is understood to be Town’s asking price with Wickham’s recently signed contract until 2014 believed to include a clause which would allow him to speak to a club if they make the Blues an offer at this pre-set level.
The Merseysiders, who Wickham supported as a boy, were also linked with the Hereford-born frontman earlier today, while Tottenham are long-term admirers.
If Town do sell Wickham this summer, they would probably prefer to do so after the UEFA European U21 Championship in Denmark later this month where, with all the Premier League big guns keeping a close eye on his progress, his value could increase.
After facing Norway in a warm-up game at Southampton on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN HD 2.30pm), Stuart Pearce’s side will take on Spain on June 12th, Ukraine on June 15th and the Czech Republic on June 19th in the group stages.