Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham is wanted by the nation's biggest clubs.

The Mail on Sunday says Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea will be involved in an unprecedented scramble to sign 16-year-old striker Wickham from Ipswich in January.

Wickham, the youngest first-team player in Ipswich's history, is regarded in the game as the most exciting young Englishman to emerge since Wayne Rooney.

He added to his fast-growing reputation with a hat-trick for England Under-17s a fortnight ago and Roy Keane's club fear he may be lured away before he can sign a professional contract in March.

Although Ipswich would be in line for compensation, a fee would have to be decided by tribunal should all parties be unable to agree a figure.