The Premier League powerhouses have both enquired about the availability of the highly rated England Under-17 international but Londoners prepared to resist £1million-plus offers

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in signing Fulham sensation Patrick Roberts, Goal.comhas learned.

The Premier League powerhouses have both enquired about the availability of the highly rated forward.

Roberts only turned 16 last month but is earning a reputation as one of the outstanding players in his age group in the country. He has become a regular for Fulham Under-18s and has featured for England Under-17s over the last week.

Fulham are not able to tie Roberts down to a professional contract until he is 17 but the west Londoners have a terms of agreement with the player that gives them a degree of protection for the next year.

Liverpool have been closely monitoring Roberts for a long time, while United have stepped up their interest in recent weeks.

United academy chiefs were understood to have been extremely impressed with him when the club’s Under-18s hosted Fulham earlier this month. Roberts scored the visitors’ only goal as the Londoners slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

United and Liverpool would both be prepared to offer more than £1million in compensation to snare the youngster but Fulham have no interest in selling a player they rate very highly.