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Armenakas was offered a place in Barcelona’s elite junior squad after spending a month training with the Spanish club this year, but his family have preferred to keep their options open, sending DVDs to several of Europe’s top clubs. Their approach has attracted criticism in Australia — with Branko Culina, the director of coaching at Soccer New South Wales, saying: “This young boy should just be left alone to enjoy his football” — but Armenakas’s father hit back by saying that his son’s development may be stunted if he stays in Australia.

payment of Ł150,000 for Harry Worley, a defender, and up to Ł650,000 more, depending on his progress. Similar arrangements have been struck with Gillingham for Ryan Bertrand, a full back, who will cost up to Ł775,000, and Bristol Rovers for Scott Sinclair, a forward, who will cost a maximum of Ł950,000 if his career progresses as Chelsea hope. []

The fuss over Armenakas, whose father is of Greek origin, is the latest illustration of clubs’ desperation to recruit the best young players of tomorrow — and even the day after. United and Chelsea are involved in a bitter struggle over John Obi Mikel, the Nigerian midfield player, a case that is in the hands of Fifa after the 18-year-old signed for United, only to claim that he had done so against his will and wished to join Chelsea.

It remains to be seen where Mikel’s future lies. Some at Old Trafford fear that they are powerless to prevent him joining Chelsea now that he has expressed a desire to do so, but others are confident that he will join United as early as January 1, in accordance with the contract they agreed with him and his Norwegian club, Lyn Oslo, in April.

In a joint submission to FIFA with Lyn, United outlined “concerns regarding the possible involvement of Chelsea” in the affair. FIFA declined to offer an update on the situation.

Chelsea’s determination to sign the most promising talents in Britain was underlined yesterday when a Football League Appeals Committee ordered them to pay up to Ł2.5 million for three 16-year-olds they have recruited to their youth academy. Stockport County will receive an initial

Chelsea and Manchester United are preparing to do battle again, this time over a seven-year-old Australian being billed as the most talented footballer of his generation. Already locked in a race to stockpile as many of the world’s most promising youngsters as possible, the Barclays Premiership rivals are united in their excitement over an boy from Sydney whose breathtaking skills they have seen on video and club officials are eager to witness at first hand.

The name of Panos Armenakas first cropped up this week when it emerged that he had been invited to train with Bolton Wanderers when his family visit Britain on holiday next month, having previously done so with Barcelona. Now, however, it transpires that Chelsea and United wish to monitor the boy’s development and potentially to sign him if his family proceed with their plan to move to Europe to advance his football career.

Official spokesmen for both clubs said last night that they were not aware of Armenakas, but his potential is such that those in charge of youth development at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford have expressed amazement at the youngster’s talent. At the moment it goes no farther than wide-eyed fascination, but should his family move to Europe, they can count on interest from both clubs as they try to persuade him to join their youth academies, which FIFA, world football’s governing body, permit from the age of 8.