Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are involved in an unprecedented tussle to capture the prize signature of Ipswich Town's highly-rated starlet Connor Wickham.

At just 16 and 11 days, Wickham became the youngest player to feature for Ipswich's first-team in their illustrious history last season, and is regarded by many in the game as the most exciting young Englishman to emerge since Wayne Rooney.

He scored his first senior goals for the Tractor Boys in their Carling Cup clash against Shrewsbury this season before enhancing his burgeoning reputation with a hat-trick for England Under-17s just over a fortnight ago.

Wickham, who stands at 6ft 3in, scored three times in 21 minutes for the Three Lions as they demolished Azerbaijan 4-0 in Baku to book their place next year's elite round of the UEFA Under-17 Championship.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane now fears Wickham may be lured away from Portman Road before he can sign a professional contract in March, with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both taking a keen interest amongst others.

A club source told the Daily Mail: "Whenever Wickham is down to play for the first team or reserves, two dozen scouts emerge out of nowhere to watch him.

"The consensus is he's as good as Rooney was at that age but is a lot bigger."

Colchester-born Wickham cannot sign a professional contract with the Suffock-based club until he turns 17 on March 31st, leaving Ipswich vulnerable to approaches from the big clubs.

Although the club would be entitled to compensation were Wickham to up sticks and leave, a fee would have to be decided by tribunal should all parties be unable to agree a figure.

In 2008 Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan said he felt 'mugged and brutalised' after being awarded just £700,000 when John Bostock left the Championship club to join Tottenham.