A host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing Charlton youngster Joe Gomez after scouts watched the defender put in an impressive performance for the England Under-16 side on Thursday night.

The 15-year-old is largely considered to be one of the hottest prospects in English football and is regularly being watched from representatives from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool have handed debuts to a number of teenage players under Brendan Rodgers [Reuters]

The Daily Mail has suggested that Liverpool and Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign the young defender who is yet to sign his first professional contract and could leave Charlton before making a senior appearance.

Charlton have previously suffered a similar fate when Jermain Defoe excelled at the academy and was promptly persuaded to switch to West Ham where he stayed for five years and earned a reputation as one of the best young strikers in the country.

The Championship club will be desperate to keep Gomez away from clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea where he will inevitably find it difficult to force his way into the first team.

However, Liverpool and Arsenal have both shown that they are willing to hand opportunities to young players and may attempt to persuade the defender that he will be given a chance to impress.

Liverpool have already handed a senior debut to Jerome Sinclair this season who became the clubs just ever player at just 16 years and six days, while Arsenal have recently handed 17-year-old Serge Gnabry debuts in the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League.

However, Charlton will hope that Gomez continues to learn his trade at the Valley and rejects any advances from Premier League sides.

He certainly impressed for the England Under-16 side as he gave an assured display in the 1-0 win over Wales in the Victory Shield.

Gomez helped England secure a valuable clean sheet and was unlucky not to find his name on the scoresheet after his well-struck shot was blocked on the line.

In a season where a number of young players are being handed opportunities to shine at Premier League clubs, Charlton will be hoping they can profit from producing another talented young English player.