Liverpool have a first-team plan for 15-year-old Josh Abe ahead of Andoni Iraola’s appointment

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Liverpool supporters were pleasantly surprised to hear news that exciting academy starlet Josh Abe had signed a contract extension on Wednesday.

Abe has emerged as one of the best talents within the academy, but there had been strong rumours that he was set to leave amid interest from Manchester City and Arsenal this summer.

However, the 15-year-old has shunned the advances of Liverpool‘s Premier League rivals to commit his immediate future to the Reds. And after The Times revealed their plans for him under new boss Andoni Iraola, fans could be getting a glimpse into his talents very soon.

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Abe could join Liverpool’s pre-season tour

Unusually, Abe already appears to have been handed a squad number by Liverpool, posing with a No. 40 shirt as he confirmed himself to be ‘proud and thankful’ to have signed in a post on Instagram.

That would hint that Liverpool soon see him as being a first-team option, and according to The Times, that appears to be the case.

They claim that the Reds have ‘mapped out’ the next stage of the teenager’s development, which will include stepping up from the U18s to the U21s next season.

READ MORE: Liverpool believe two of their players will get so much better under Andoni Iraola next season

More interestingly, though, it is also reported that Liverpool could bring Abe on Iraola’s first pre-season tour as new head coach.

The Reds are heading to the USA in July, and it is claimed that with senior options still away at the World Cup, Abe may be part of the travelling squad.

Liverpool are in the market for new wide players this summer, but if Abe can impress ahead of the new season, perhaps he will be seen as an option by Iraola.

Given he will not turn 16 until October, there is no real need to rush on that front. But Liverpool clearly think Abe is good enough to join the first-team in the near future, and having seen the impact of Rio Ngumoha at just 17 last season, they may be encouraged to promote him early.

Iraola will have many reasons to be delighted about joining Liverpool when his appointment is confirmed later this week, and having a gem like Abe to call upon and run the rule over is certainly one of them.