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Liverpool will know the importance of tying Rio Ngumoha down to a new contract at the club, and now a big claim has emerged regarding his future.
The 18-year-old produced a performance for the ages against Villarreal on Tuesday evening, registering two assists in the 4-3 win and running the visitors ragged at Anfield.
Ngumoha is one of the most exciting young players to emerge at Liverpool in many years, and if he avoids serious injury, the sky looks to be the limit for him moving forward.
He is out of contract in 2028, however, which is a worry, but speaking to Football Insider, former Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham scout Bryan King said a new deal feels likely at this point:
“He’s 18. He came from Chelsea and cost up to £7m if he fulfils all the different criteria in the contract. Played for 74 minutes last night. He’s already played for the full England squad, so the potential is fantastic for him. For an 18-year-old to have come in and already done what he’s done, he’s a very interesting footballer.
“Of course, with a player that age, you’ve got to be careful. You never know it, do you? Somebody could come in with a silly offer, but from what I’m told by sources and people in the game, he’ll sign a new contract. Liverpool will certainly sort a new contract out.
“He was picked out by Liverpool. He was at Chelsea and he gets offered first team football at Liverpool at such a young age. He’s a brilliant talent and I think he’s got a great future at Liverpool.”
Ngumoha was breathtaking to watch against Villarreal, producing so many eye-catching dribbles and standing out as the best player on the pitch, even though the £100m+ trio of Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were all involved at some point.
The winger is a special talent who can become truly world-class over time, with former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge waxing lyrical about him after the match on Tuesday:
“Rio Ngumoha was magnificent tonight. Such a threat, and he dedicated himself to his tasks. On the ball this kid has so much potential, and I say kid, but he’s a young man. He has so much quality and it’s stuff that you can’t teach to be honest.
“What he does with the ball at his feet, that is God-given ability, and his hard work on the training pitch, doing things day in and day out, and being ruthless, is what he said in his interview, and I like that. He wants to be decisive, and I love that about him.”
Hopefully, Ngumoha is happy at Liverpool and sees his long-term future at Anfield, but whatever happens, a contract extension must be sealed as soon as possible.
That will allow the Reds to be in a strong bargaining position if interest in the England international does emerge, but the hope is that he isn’t going anywhere for a long time.
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