Latest news with #Ngumoha
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool agree to sign 40-goal forward
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign an exciting forward. We're all hyper-focused on the Alexander Isak situation at the moment. Understandably so, Liverpool could pull off a truly remarkable transfer if they manage to get a deal over the line for the Swedish forward. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now However, Isak is not the only transfer Liverpool are going to be working on. Richard Hughes is in Tokyo at the moment and him and the rest of his team are going to be very busy making moves in the market. Most notably, they will also be looking to sign a centre-back and there will be a way they will want to replace Luis Diaz as well, who is expected to depart. On top of that, they have a responsibility to negotiate sales for some of the club's players who want to move on. Notably, the likes of Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton. Hughes is not solely responsible for bringing in younger talent, players like Rio Ngumoha, for example, last summer, however, he does have final say in the matter. And it looks like the Reds are working around the clock to bring in someone potentially as exciting as Ngumoha to their academy ranks. 17-year-old Will Wright scored over 40 goals for Salford City's academy last season, and he's already featured for the club's first team as a 16-year-old four times. One of those appearances included a late cameo against Manchester City in the FA Cup. Impressively, last season there were only two 16-year-olds who made appearances in the FA Cup in the third round and beyond and one of them was Ngumoha and the other was Wright. Now this summer, Wright begun pre-season by scoring four times in three appearances for Salford's first team. It was rumoured that Liverpool were interested in him. He fits the bill in terms of the kind of striker Arne Slot likes to use. Wright is tall, quick and he thrives in front of goal.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Door OPEN for Liverpool's Luis Diaz successor
Liverpool are braced for another bid from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz. The Colombian was earlier this summer the subject of an attempted offer from Bavaria - but that was insufficient to bring Richard Hughes to the table. But the interest hasn't gone away. In fact, several reporters are suggesting that Bayern are coming back. If Liverpool achieve close to their asking price - earlier described as €100m - then the 28-year-old will be off. Shop the LFC Store LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now The player is now thought to be willing to move away from Anfield. His current contract expires in 2027 but there is little chance of a renewal. Diaz was previously reported to be interested in extending his deal but Liverpool have not made a contract offer he deemed acceptable. Can Liverpool find a BETTER player on Diaz's wages? He is reported to be earning £55k per week on a contract which was signed back in January 2022. A contract renewal on Diaz's preferred terms would set Liverpool back somewhere in the region of £150k per week and it's unlikely to happen. And if Diaz moves it is going to open up a slot in the squad for a potential new arrival. Among current options are Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and potentially Hugo Ekitike - while youngster could also be due some minutes. There have been links also with Rodrygo of Real Madrid - regularly used on the right by the Bernabeu side but who would actually prefer to play on the left. But according to a new report from Christian Falk in his CFBayern column, replacing Diaz in the transfer market is not going to be straightforward from a salary perspective. 'Diaz earns around £2.34m per year,' the report reads. 'If he leaves, the Reds will have to sign a replacement who could demand significantly more salary.' Top players earning FAR more than Diaz Diaz is probably the best-value attacker in the Premier League. It is hard to imagine any other player offering his kind of productivity for £55k per week. Federico Chiesa, for example, is reported to earn £120k per week. And so if Liverpool sell Diaz, they won't be able to find another performer at Diaz's salary level. Instead they will be pushed into signing a player on perhaps four or six times Diaz's pay packet. © IMAGO - Rio Ngumoha Liverpool Is Ngumoha the best solution? Whether the money is there for an improved option is another question. The Reds have already increased their outlay thanks to signings like Wirtz and Ekitike and it may be the most prudent option to replace Diaz in-house. That means a boost for Gakpo - who had to rotate duties with Diaz last season - or else Ngumoha - who hasn't yet signed a first pro deal. It looks likely Liverpool's big-earners like Nunez and Chiesa will see their salaries go to Ekitike and other star names in attack. No doubt Diaz will help in that regard too. But it says a lot about how much worth the Reds have managed to extract from Diaz via Arne Slot's coaching that they will find him so hard to replace at his current wage level.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What is Liverpool's first-team pathway for youngsters like Rio Ngumoha?
The tricks and fancy flicks of Rio Ngumoha offer a glimpse into the future at Liverpool. If the talented 16-year-old develops into the elite winger many expect, it won't be long before he is integrated into the first team and recognised as the next breakout star. The hype around Ngumoha — signed from Chelsea last year and already an emerging talent in the England youth setup — is growing. A productive end to last season after working with Liverpool coaches on his finishing in training helped build momentum for Ngumoha that he has taken into this summer and pre-season has been the perfect time for him to flourish. Advertisement A staggered return for some of Liverpool's senior attackers opened up an opportunity in the opening friendly against Preston North End, televised on ITV1, opening him up to a wider audience. Ngumoha ran at the Preston defence with intent and sparked a new wave of optimism before scoring against Stoke City in a 5-0 win at Liverpool's training ground. He then linked up with a 29-man squad on the tour of Hong Kong and Japan. He is the most exciting teenage attacker at the club and was sold the big dream of representing Liverpool at senior level in the years to come when negotiating his move last summer. Forming a pathway for young players is at the heart of the academy's plans. Staying at Chelsea could have earned Ngumoha more money but he was encouraged by the potential of a fast-tracking process. He made his senior debut in the FA Cup win against Accrington Stanley last season. Head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have since picked up some of the best plug-and-play young talent across Europe, signing Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez in deals worth almost £300million. Yet many far less experienced youngsters still believe Liverpool is the best place to develop, either by breaking into the first team or landing an attractive alternative if Plan A fails. Trey Nyoni, the 18-year-old midfielder signed from Leicester City in September 2023, realised that as he trained under Arne Slot for most of last season and made five senior appearances. Nyoni only returned to the under-21 set-up when he needed minutes to maintain match sharpness, and recently signed a new long-term contract. Other youngsters, including Jayden Danns (19 years old), James McConnell (20) and Lewis Koumas (19) — players who helped Liverpool win the Carabao Cup against Chelsea in 2024 — may have been pushed further back in the pecking order, but time is still on their side. A forensic approach to finding the right loan move for each individual will help their development. It's also why Armin Pecsi, the 20-year-old goalkeeper, turned his back on regular football to join Liverpool from Puskas Akademia this summer, despite recognising that he would not be competing with current No 1, Alisson, and his backup, Giorgi Mamardashvili. Pecsi is on the 100-player longlist for this year's Golden Boy, awarded to Europe's best under-21 player. He was a regular for the Hungarian top-flight runners-up and had options to continue playing for other clubs across Europe who were keen to sign him. Yet Pecsi, a boyhood Liverpool supporter, recognised the value of moving to an elite club with world-class training facilities and high-level coaching. He was promised a place on the tour to help settle in, and the plan is to train for a year on Merseyside before moving on loan next season with a view to challenging for the first team in the next three to four years. Advertisement Matt Newberry, the director of global talent, handled the negotiations and pointed to the development of other goalkeepers such as Caoimhin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jaros when offering assurances for the future. Kelleher played 67 games for Liverpool in all competitions and moved to Brentford for £18m this summer, while Jaros is now on loan at Ajax and has developed into a top-level 'keeper. Liverpool put on a detailed presentation when they target youngsters and, alongside Ngumoha and Nyoni, they have signed Amara Nallo from West Ham United and both Alvin Ayman and Harvey Owen from Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent years. Academy director Alex Inglethorpe sets the tone. Over 12 years at the club, he can point to a fine track record of promoting talent — the academy is located in the same building as the first-team at the AXA Training Centre, to underline the potential pathway for youngsters — and has established a strict culture. There is a £50,000-a-year academy wage cap, a car clause limiting engine sizes to 1.3 litres, and a rule where mobile phones are handed in on arrival. Newberry, previously head of senior academy recruitment and head of loan management, has contributed heavily, too, and since Slot's arrival, the connection between the departments has remained strong. The hiring of Rob Page (under-21s) and the expected arrival of Simon Wiles (under-18s) will bring a fresh coaching outlook and the hope is that results improve after a disappointing period for the development teams last season. Winning, of course, is not the key objective. Bringing players through each age group is the ultimate aim. Liverpool can point to midfielder Curtis Jones — the only Scouser regularly in the team following Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid — as the example of where players can get to if they combine talent with hard work. Advertisement Right-back Conor Bradley benefited from a loan spell at Bolton Wanderers after he was scouted for over a year and joined from County Tyrone youth side, Dungannon Swifts, in 2019. Jarell Quansah, meanwhile, has just left the club to join Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £30m, showing that a future elsewhere is possible even if establishing a regular place in the team at Anfield is not forthcoming. Landing the gem of German football in Wirtz, one of Europe's most sought-after strikers in Ekitike, and two flying full-backs in Frimpong and Kerkez will make a difference after three quiet transfer windows. Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton and Owen Beck may have to move to fulfil their ambitions of playing regularly. Ben Doak's time with the squad during pre-season could also put him in the shop window. It wasn't so long ago that Doak was the most exciting youngster at the club, only to be overshadowed by the hype that followed Ngumoha when he joined last summer. If either he or Ngumoha make it, that will be considered a success. It's no secret that greater attention is placed on players with the potential to kick on in the first team but that doesn't mean that others suffer as a result. Take Luca Stephenson, the well-liked utility player. He spent last year on loan at Dundee, where he made 31 consecutive appearances in the Scottish Premiership before returning to Merseyside with an injury in the closing weeks of the campaign. Since signing from Sunderland in 2018, Stephenson has moved from midfield to right back and also as a makeshift centre-back with every tactical requirement clearly outlined along the way. The 21-year-old is also on the tour and expected to sign a contract extension before heading out on loan, most likely back to Dundee unless a Championship club makes a move. Advertisement Liverpool see the benefit in monitoring his progress for another year, even though his chances of breaking into the first team are limited. While Stephenson may not generate the same level of excitement as Ngumoha and Nyoni, Liverpool have still given him a pathway for the future.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fabrizio Romano Confirms Liverpool Star is Set to Sign New Contract
Liverpool Planning New Contract for Rising Star Rio Ngumoha Liverpool continue their proactive approach to squad development, as Fabrizio Romano reports that 16-year-old talent Rio Ngumoha is set to be offered a new contract. With several first-team players recently securing long-term extensions, the club's focus on future stars signals their intent to maintain dominance under Arne Slot. Ngumoha's Breakthrough Season Ngumoha arrived from Chelsea last summer as a highly-rated teenager, and Liverpool have wasted no time integrating him into their plans. Over the past season, he trained multiple times with the first team and was included in matchday squads, most notably as an unused substitute in the League Cup quarter-final win over Southampton and during the shock defeat to Plymouth Argyle. His senior debut came in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley, where he started at Anfield and played 72 minutes, demonstrating maturity beyond his years. He also featured across Liverpool's Under-21s, Under-18s and Under-19s, underlining his versatility and potential. In pre-season, he impressed further with a 45-minute display in the win over Preston North End. According to Romano, 'the club is said to be extremely happy for him, and they think he has a huge future.' This insight reflects the high regard in which Ngumoha is held within the club's hierarchy. Securing the Future Amid Transfer Interest While contract talks continue with Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz, Liverpool's decision to move early on Ngumoha's new deal shows sharp awareness of the market. With Real Madrid circling Konate and Bayern Munich and Barcelona interested in Diaz, tying down young talent becomes even more crucial. Ngumoha's rise comes in a summer where Liverpool have seen notable exits. Caoimhin Kelleher left for Brentford after a decade at Anfield, Vitezslav Jaros secured a loan to Ajax, and defenders Jarell Quansah and Nat Phillips moved to Bayer Leverkusen and West Bromwich Albion respectively. Despite these changes, the Premier League champions have avoided an overhaul, focusing instead on targeted improvements and extensions. Slot's Trust in Youth Arne Slot's first season brought not only the league title but also a renewed belief in Liverpool's academy products. The Dutch manager has shown he is unafraid to give young players a platform, and Ngumoha's inclusion in key fixtures suggests the teenager is firmly in his plans. With Liverpool committing to a mix of experience and youth, fans can look forward to watching talents like Ngumoha develop alongside stalwarts such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who have both extended their contracts until 2027. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis For Liverpool fans, this is the kind of update that gets the heart racing. Rio Ngumoha has been the buzz of the academy since his arrival, and the fact the club are ready to reward him with a new deal shows they are not just paying lip service to youth development. Arne Slot has already proven he trusts young players, and Ngumoha's senior debut last season gave supporters a glimpse of his sharp footwork, vision and confidence on the ball. Seeing him included in the pre-season win over Preston North End suggests he could be more involved with the first team sooner than many expected. What excites the fanbase most is the thought of Ngumoha learning from Salah and Diaz. Imagine him soaking up knowledge from world-class forwards while getting minutes under one of Europe's most exciting managers. Liverpool's commitment to tying down both senior and young stars speaks of a club that is planning not just for next season, but for the next decade. As champions of England, the bar has been raised. Seeing a future superstar like Ngumoha nurtured at Anfield, rather than shipped out or lost in the system, makes fans believe this new era under Slot will be just as thrilling as the one before.
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arne Slot could save Liverpool millions with player who devastated John Terry
Liverpool fans will be excited by the potential of young forward Rio Ngumoha after he impressed during their 3-1 friendly win over Preston on Sunday, with the player leaving Chelsea for Anfield last year Liverpool boss Arne Slot could opt to save millions on a new forward after the impressive display of youngster Rio Ngumoha in their 3-1 win over Preston, just months after the youngster left John Terry distraught by quitting Chelsea for Anfield. Ngumoha caught the eye for the Reds on Sunday as he started the game on the left flank and was involved in a number of attacks in the first half. He was heavily involved in Conor Bradley's opening goal as he drive forwards at goal from the wing, cleverly dancing in and out of defenders before supplying the ball to Federico Chiesa - who crossed for Dominik Szoboszlai to provide Bradley a tap-in. Ngumoha only played the first 45 minutes of the game, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression and give Liverpool fans hope they might have a gem on their hands, having seen him his senior debut in the 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup in January. The 16-year-old arrived from Chelsea in September last year, a move that left youth coach and club legend Terry gutted after losing one of their top talents. When Ngumoha's move was confirmed, the player posted a picture of him holding a Liverpool shirt on Instagram as he wrote: "Delighted to sign for @liverpoolfc YNWA." In response, Terry - who was Ngumoha's academy coach at Stamford Bridge - said: "Good luck mate. This boy is and will be a top, top player." It's understood Ngumoha left Chelsea for Liverpool because he felt there was a clearer pathway to the first team than in west London - and he could get a chance under Slot despite the club in the market for a new forward. They have been linked with Newcastle's Alexander Isak, but he carries a huge price tag of around £150m. Ngumoha has witnessed how Bradley, Jarrell Quansah and Trey Nyoni have all received opportunities in the first team in recent years, while Chelsea tend to favour high profile signings in their line-ups. Slot has made it clear during his career that he is happy to promote youngsters if they are good enough after starting his coaching career with the PEC Zwolle academy. 'I like to see good players and if they are old or young, that doesn't matter that much,' Slot said in his first Liverpool press conference. 'It's always nice for a club and team that young players come through the ranks. That always gives energy to a club. In the end, it's all about the quality. If they continue doing well, there will be a fair chance that they will play.'
