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Liverpool has introduced an Academy wage cap "in an effort to combat" the "too much, too young" culture in English football, according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Teenagers "are being lured to join the biggest Premier League clubs with huge financial incentives" but the Merseyside club has decided it will "no longer pay more than a basic salary" of £40,000 ($49,000) a year to its 17-year-old first season professionals. That will increase with bonuses such as U23 appearances and first team promotions at Anfield or while on loan in the lower divisions. Southampton and Tottenham "have enforced a similar policy, which the Premier League would welcome across the country." Liverpool is "adamant the shift will serve the interests of those who want a route to the first team more than massive pay days in their teenage years." It is believed some of the wealthiest Premier League clubs "are trying to entice players as young as 16" with contracts worth £11,000 ($13,500) a week. With the support of Manager Jürgen Klopp, Academy Dir Alex Inglethorpe is also reducing numbers to favor "quality over quantity in different age groups." Both Klopp and Inglethorpe are also against FA advice discouraging Academy players from "playing grassroots football for their school or local sides." Liverpool is actively encouraging its youngsters to "play as much football as they can outside their Academies" (
TELEGRAPH, 10/13).
