Rising tensions ‘between THREE Premier League clubs lead to Chelsea denying rival scouts access to youth games’ – after one Blues prodigy was poached over the summer

Tensions appear to be rising between three of the country’s finest youth academies, with scouts denied access to their rivals’ matches, according to reports. 

The quality of players being produced by some of England’s leading academies appears to be at an all time high, with the average ages of most teams regularly dropping given the young talent top teams can call on. 

With homegrown player registration a particularly thorny issue for those qualifying for continental qualification, the need to produce top quality youngsters that can make the step up is more prevalent still. 

As such, it is commonplace for clubs to send scouts to observe games at their rivals’ academy matches, with a view to getting a look at some of the best and brightest for the future. 

However, according to a report from The Athletic, tensions are rising between Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool to the point where some scouts are being denied access to these games. 

Rio Ngumoha, 16, turned down a better financial package at Chelsea to move to Anfield

The report claims that scouts from both Liverpool and United have seen requests for accreditation for games at Chelsea’s Cobham base rejected. 

It further adds that sources claim applications from Chelsea scouts to attend Liverpool academy games have similarly been rejected, though these were denied by those with knowledge of the situation. 

Rejection for accreditation requests are thought to be reciprocal, and a Liverpool source informed The Athletic that should Chelsea scouts apply for access to the Reds, they will in turn be denied. 

It is thought that the first instigators were the Blues, though the report adds that a Chelsea source has denied this claim. 

Premier League youth rules stipulate that scouts are free to attend youth games at other clubs, provided they alert both sides involved by noon on the last working day prior to the game, and also show correct identification.

The report adds that representatives from the three clubs are thought to have held talks in a bid to clear the air. 

No formal ban is understood to have been issued from any of the sides involved. 

Meanwhile, other clubs are not believed to have issues with their accreditation requests for youth games.  

Ngumoha was thought to be one of the most talented players to come out of Cobham in recent years

As per The Athletic, the move is being interpreted as a response to Liverpool’s recruitment of 16-year-old Blues academy prodigy Rio Ngumoha.

The 16-year-old traded west London for Merseyside over the summer, with United also keen to sign the youngster, and had widely been considered one of the biggest talents to come out of Cobham in recent years. 

Chelsea, Liverpool and United were approached for comment by The Athletic.