Championship starlet to spark Arsenal & Liverpool bidding war

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are all readying bids for Derby County wonderkid Will Hughes.

The 17-year-old midfielder has broken into the Rams’ first team and has become a regular this season.

His impressive performances have attracted the interest of Arsene Wenger, Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Mancini, but now financial pressures at the east Midlands club mean a sale may be inevitable, according to The Telegraph.

The report claims Arsenal have already made tentative contact over a possible deal for Hughes, with Wenger keen to make him the next young Championship addition to his young ranks.

However, the Gunners are not alone in this and the report also claims Liverpool and Manchester City’s interest will be encouraged by Derby in the hope that a bidding war ensues between the Premier League tutors.

Were it to comer to this the club from Etihad Stadium would likely have the upper hand due to their superior spending power, but the prestige at Anfield and Wenger’s track record for developing promising youngsters at Emirates Stadium could sway any decision.

The report claims Derby manager Nigel Clough has been told to raise £1.8million in January and so may be forced to cash in on one of his prized assets, but it also says the Rams have set a starting price of £4million.