2 weeks ago
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Liverpool has been carefully controlling the development of Rio Ngumoha. For the most part, he has been kept under wraps since he was poached from the Chelsea youth setup.
But this preseason, it seems the 16-year-old's time has come. Arne Slot has used him as a bona fide option during the tour of Asia, and he has not disappointed.
In fact, it wouldn't be outrageous to say that Ngumoha has been one of the standouts of preseason so far, even amid the first glimpses of some exciting new signings. And it won't be lost on anybody that the teenager's emergence has coincided with the now-confirmed departure of Luis Diaz.
So far, Slot has not been as willing as Jurgen Klopp before him to bring young talent through the ranks. But players like Conor Bradley remain as proof that there's a pathway there for those who are good enough.
And even at 16, there is every reason to believe that Ngumoha might already be primed to play a first-team role. Indeed, the question is being asked as to whether or not Slot even really needs to sign a direct Diaz replacement.
His latest outing against Yokohama FM only served to further underline his strengths. He tormented his full-back from the moment he was introduced, and he managed to mark his appearance with a goal, dancing through and finding a neat finish.
Even so, it would clearly be unfair to ask Ngumoha to step up as the direct replacement for Diaz. He does not look short of confidence by any means, but that is too big a burden to place on anyone of his age.
There are also one or two question marks about his decision-making, as you would expect from an exuberant teenager desperate to make his mark. Even on the goal, some teammates may feel a pass was the higher-percentage option, and he wasted a couple of other promising positions by holding on too long.
Then again, Liverpool already has Cody Gakpo on the books. The Dutchman will likely pick up a good deal of the slack left by Diaz, meaning Ngumoha could carve out a handy spot as the next man up.
Rotating with Gakpo and called upon as a regular impact substitute, Ngumoha has given Slot every reason to believe that he could make his mark this season. There's not a defender around who would not be daunted by his quick feet and direct running.
It's only with that kind of exposure to the team that he will be able to work on things like decision-making and finding the right pass. And given his obvious talent, there's every chance it could save Liverpool a big chunk of money as well.
Perhaps even the sort of money that could be redirected toward Alexander Isak? It may seem far-fetched, but if Liverpool decides it does not need to enter the market for an elite winger, it can pursue the very best players in other positions.
After all, a move for both Isak and someone like Rodrygo seems very unlikely, even in the context of this hugely ambitious summer. It may well be a case of one or the other.
Isak's arrival would also give Hugo Ekitike a less defined role, allowing the Frenchman to cover on the left when required. All in all, Ngumoha could stay and play his part in replacing Diaz without a crushing weight of pressure.
Liverpool won't give in to the hype, and it has an expert team on hand to decide the best next steps for Ngumoha. But the cat is out of the bag now, and the clamor for him to play a role in the first-team is only going to get louder.
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