Chelsea have reportedly banned Liverpool scouts from attending their youth team games.
In what is the headline fixture in the Premier League this weekend, table toppers Liverpool welcome Enzo Maresca’s side to Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with Chelsea looking to keep pace with the Reds, Manchester City and Arsenal. While much was made of their chaotic summer, Maresca looks to have steadied the ship at Stamford Bridge this term heading into a busy October.
Chelsea currently sit fourth in the table, with Maresca being named manager of the month for September. However, when they face off against Liverpool this weekend, there will be an added layer of animosity between the two sides after it was revealed the Reds have been banned from attending Chelsea youth team games.
The Athletic report the Blues have been blocking requests from Arne Slot’s side to attend Chelsea’s youth team games at their Cobham training ground – with the reason being due to Liverpool’s move to land 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha this summer.
Previously at Chelsea, the talented teenager was being tracked by a number of clubs this past summer, including Manchester City and Manchester United. However, he ended up choosing to join Liverpool.
(Image: Chris Lee/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
As a result of the move to reject requests from Liverpool to attend Chelsea youth team games, the Reds are set to return the favour and are now expected to block any efforts the Blues to scout their academy matches in person.
The move by Chelsea is also said to have caused bemusement on Liverpool’s end, whose move for Ngumoha was given the all-clear by the Premier League after passing a five-step review, which is conducted when a youth team player wants to leave an academy in an effort to ensure no rules have been broken.
(Image: Instagram/Riongumoha)
An England youth team international, Ngumoha believed joining Liverpool would provide him with more first team opportunities than he would receive at Chelsea, who made a host of signings this past summer.
And ultimately, while both teams will now no longer be able to watch the others youth teams in the flesh, they will still be able to scout those players by attending away games or via video analysis.