Liverpool set to lose Rio Ngumoha thanks to crazy decision
· Yahoo Sports
Rio Ngumoha could now leave Liverpool. And it feels like the club is doing all it can to make that happen.
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Rio Ngumoha has just two years remaining on his contract. He wants a new one, too, which is understandable given he's made the jump to senior level and is now a regular.
It's a situation that has clubs lining up, naturally. Ngumoha is one of the brightest prospects in English football and, with any luck, should go onto stardom. Though, he needs help from his club to make that happen.
David Ornstein is among those reporting that Arsenal hold some sort of interest in Ngumoha. Bayern Munich did in the summer, too, and we can't imagine that's gone away.
Liverpool, though, should be in a position of strength. They're the ones who can comfortably demonstrate true faith in Ngumoha and give him what he needs - they can show him the development path, not just tell him of it.
Only, it feels like they're throwing that advantage away.
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha advantage
Liverpool didn’t sign a left-winger in 2025 to replace Luis Diaz. The was primarily because they had such faith in Ngumoha and wanted to make sure he got plenty of minutes.
Arne Slot didn’t give him those minutes, though. Nugmoha barely featured across the start of the season and eventually forced his way into the setup with just a couple of months remaining.
Liverpool reacted to that situation (and many others) by sacking Arne Slot and bringing in Andoni Iraola, a coach who has demonstrated far more faith in youth players. Only, the club then immediately signed two left-wingers who compete directly with Ngumoha for minutes.
The result? Ngumoha is out on the right a lot. A position he can’t actually play particularly well as it nullifies his natural game of running at defenders with a view to cutting inside.
He finds himself on the fringes as a result, like against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. And that’s a massive problem.
It’s difficult to believe that Ngumoha will renew his contract at a club who isn’t going to play him in his preferred position. A club who have told him one thing, given him guarantees, then asked him to go and do something he struggles at.
Because this is a player who is still getting used to playing at the elite level. Asking him to also learn a new position while doing it is mad - he’s only just turned 18! Why would you willingly pile that much on his plate and expect proper development?
As with many things this summer, Liverpool don’t appear to have thought this through. A transfer plan of just signing the best players, regardless of position or need, and then fitting them together does not mesh with developing youngsters who need guaranteed game time in roles they understand.
Ultimately, this is a situation that could cost Liverpool Ngumoha as we’re not convinced he’ll want to renew his contract at a club that has so much competition in his preferred position. Not when others would happily move players aside for him.