Liverpool are leading the race to sign Sheffield United youngster David Brooks and TeamTalk has exclusively claimed that the Merseysiders have already made their intention public.

David Brooks started his youth career with Manchester City at the tender age of 7 before eventually moving to Sheffield United in 2014 and officially signing professional terms in 2015. The 20-year-old was born in Warrington, England, and is eligible to play for both England and Wales, because his mother is from Wales.

He was called up for Wales’ U-20 squad but he decided to join the England U20 team. Some three months later, he received an invitation to play for Wales’ U21 squad and featured for the team in their 3-0 victory over Switzerland.

TeamTalk further claims that Sheffield United are reluctant to lose him. Hence, they are working on a possibility of handing him a new, improved and a long-term contract. Brooks’ abilities can truly be underlined with the fact that he was called up to the Wales’ senior squad this week for their World Cup qualifiers.

Having made 11 appearances this season already, Brooks is yet to score a goal but has already registered 3 assists. His exploits have earned a positive review from the Liverpool scouts and the aforementioned source has quoted that the scouts believe Brooks will be a Premier League regular within 12 months or so.

As expected, Liverpool aren’t the only club vying for his signature but they do remain the favourite party in the speculation. The fact that the Reds already have their own Welsh flesh Ben Woodburn in their ranks, might give them an upper hand. Brooks was firmly linked with a loan move to Chesterfield this summer (IBTimes), but as soon as the move failed to materialise, Everton entered the foray; but to no effect.

✨| David Brooks (20) in today’s derby. Have some respect David these people have families pic.twitter.com/6bGUHG2mQl

— Footy Scouted (@FootyScouted) September 24, 2017

In the midst of all this, Sheffield manager Chris Wilder has denied all the claims of Brooks moving away from the Blades.

“He (Brooks) will not be going anywhere (in January), I have said that,” the Blades was quoted by The Sheffield Star.

“We are building something here. There are always casualties along the way when you do that and, yes, we are already looking to January ourselves. But, like I say, we are building.

“We want to keep hold of all our players, especially the ones who are doing well. Brooko is going nowhere. He is learning off good people off the pitch and good players on the training pitch. I always think that is the biggest thing.

“Myself, Al (assistant boss Alan Knill) and the coaching staff can add bits and pieces to his game. He has got natural ability, but the biggest thing for me is him being among those players, who are a first-class group.

“I am a big believer that if you have got good people and good characters around, they do half your job for you. His progression is there for everyone to see. He is producing outstanding performances, which are there for all to see.”

So whether or not we’ll sign him remains to be seen.