Report: Liverpool under investigation for tapping up Stoke youth

The Premier League has reportedly opened an investigation into allegations that Liverpool tempted a youth player from Stoke City's academy with the promise of paying the boy's private school fees - and then reneged on the deal.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby that Liverpool called off the transfer once the club learned it could not pay the player's tuition unless it did so for every youth player on its books.

Liverpool instead sends its youngsters to a secondary school in a Merseyside suburb.

The Reds are prepared to defend themselves in the case, according to the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce, arguing they made a "legitimate attempt" to sign the 12-year-old.

The aftermath of the broken agreement is thousands of pounds of debt, which the player's parents are now burdened with. They are stuck with the bill for sending their child to private school, Rumsby reports.

The boy is also stuck in limbo, as he cannot play for another club until Stoke receives £49,000 in compensation. The agreement in place was meant to cover his school fees until he turned 16.

Stoke had previously been paying the fees as part of a separate contract with the boy's parents.

"This is a shocking example of how children in Premier League football are being used and abused," the source told The Telegraph. "This kid has done nothing wrong at all but he's been left out in the cold and his parents are having to foot the bill for private education that they can't afford."

Neither the Premier League nor Liverpool provided comment to The Telegraph or the Liverpool Echo. The league also denied attempts from ESPN FC for comments on the accusations.