A soccer-mad schoolboy is at the centre of a ferocious Premiership bidding war. Adam Pepper is just 11 years old – but already he has been reportedly valued at £5m and is being courted by 10 top clubs. Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham, Blackburn, Manchester City, and Bolton are all clamouring for his services. Scouts from Glasgow Rangers and Dutch club Ajax, famous for nurturing talent as young as five, travelled to watch Adam play for Liverpool schoolboys at the end of last season.
But it is Everton who currently head the pack, fuelling speculation that the youngster may follow in the footsteps of the Toffees’ wonderchild Wayne Rooney. Adam, from Kirkdale, Liverpool, is a passionate Blue and has also been a regular player in the club’s under-11s team. Father Ronnie, 41, a community spor ts worker, said: “I don’t want al l the bright lights for Adam yet. “I’ve stopped taking Adam to games now because I just get pestered by agents and club officials all the time.”
Midfielder Adam has recently been sent boots by David Beckham, birthday cards by Ryan Giggs, shirts by Wayne Rooney and visited at his home by Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. But Adam, a pupil at St John’s Roman Catholic Junior School, is determined to keep his feet firmly on the ground. He said: “I don’t understand what all the fuss is about really – I’m just enjoying what I’m doing. “I am always being sent new pairs of boots – we’ve had to turn the shed into a boot room. “They ask me which type I like best but I just like wearing the black ones.”
Last week, Adam’s parents hired the agent who discovered Wayne Rooney to help them cope with the interest in their son’s talents. Agent Peter McIntosh of X8 Sports Management said: “He has great potential. “The brilliant thing is his footballing brain. He is so aware and always knows where all his team mates are. “When he is knocked over he gets up and still knows exactly where everybody is. “He was captain of Liverpool schoolboys this season, as well as playing for Everton, and has been the most successful captain in the team’s history.”
Adam, whose favourite Everton player is Danish international Thomas Gravesen, has recently taken up boxing to build up his upper body strength. Like Croxteth-born Rooney, Adam has learnt his skills by kicking a ball around with his friends in the terraced streets and parks near his home. Mr McIntosh added: “It’s all been down to lots and lots of practice. He simply loves playing football. “My aim is to make sure all the pressures are not allowed to build on him so he can concentrate solely on his football. “His Dad, Ronnie, was also in the Liverpool schoolboys and was talked of as the next big thing so he knows what that pressure can be like.”
Last season, Adam played for the under-11′s part of Sunday League pub side The Allerton. Landlady Joan Weaver said: “He is fantastic. Everyone loves him here. We all know he is a great footballer and we all wish him well.”
Under current FIFA rules, clubs are banned from making cash payments to children. Soccer agent Eric Hall has valued Adam at between £1m and £5m, and called on his parents to insure him, but local football experts say it is impossible to put a value on someone so young.
Football finance expert James Dow said: “No insurance company would put money down when there is so much uncertainty.
“Having said that, I have not heard of someone so young being given so much attention.”
Dr Geoff Pearson, an expert in football law at the University of Liverpool said: “Clubs have really wised up to having a good youth team. With the bottom falling out of the transfer market, they are looking to spot young talent.”
Source: www.icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk
