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Alex Inglethorpe, Liverpool’s academy director, has revealed his immense pride at the development of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha this summer, and feels both have proved they’re now ready to play a role at first-team level.
The youngsters have featured heavily for the Reds in pre-season, with the pair making seven starts between them across the summer friendlies and looking comfortable at senior level among Arne Slot’s star-studded squad.
Nyoni signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool this summer, while Ngumoha, having played just once last season, has hugely enhanced his status with three goals across the pre-season matches.
Both are expected to remain with the Reds this campaign and not head out on loan in the final weeks of the transfer market. The teenagers were also named on the bench for Sunday’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
That delights Inglethorpe, who has seen every step of their journeys since joining from Chelsea and Leicester City respectively in recent years.
“I think pre-season is a wonderful opportunity for the kids that are given the chance to be around the first team,” Liverpool’s academy chief exclusively told Liverpool.com.
“I think it's a wonderful opportunity to make your mark and just to suggest that you might be good enough to play a part in games or some of the season, or that you're on the right developmental pathway, doing the right things.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity and it feels like both Trey and Rio have taken that opportunity to at least put down a little bit of a market to suggest that they're - one - on the right way, that their development is going in the right direction - and secondly - that they might be able to contribute if given the opportunity.”
While Nyoni and Ngumoha have taken steps towards establishing themselves in Liverpool’s senior squad, several high-profile academy graduates have left the club this summer.
The departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton have earned the Reds over £60million ($81M), perhaps even reaching more than £80M ($107M) with potential add-ons.
For Inglethrope, the transfers evoke mixed emotions. “I find it difficult,” he acknowledged. “I’ve known some of these boys since they were six or seven years old.
“You can’t help but form relationships and bonds with them. I’m incredibly proud that they've all had an opportunity to wear the shirt and represent the club, and whether that's for one appearance or 500 appearances, I think there's something very special in being able to say you've done that.
“I think you've joined an incredibly elite band of players who have said they can wear the shirts, so I'm always really proud. Then I think that it's just lovely to see them go and continue their careers [elsewhere].
“I mean, ultimately, there's no shame involved in saying that you can't quite nail down a first-team place at Liverpool, given the strength and depth of the squad, and I admire them for not being prepared to just perhaps be here and make up the numbers.
“It's a fairly extensive list of clubs that I'm able to look at on a Saturday when the results come in and check up and see how everyone's doing,” he added.
“So, this year I've suddenly got a greater interest in Lyon and Leverkusen, Brentford and wherever else the boys end up. Derby for Bobby Clark; Brentford again for Sepp van den Berg. But it's really nice to suddenly have an interest in clubs that you never thought you would.”
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