Liverpool ‘will be fuming’ with a reported approach by Bayern Munich for Rio Ngumoha in recent days, according to a former chief scout at Premier League level.
Last week, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein broke the news that the Bundesliga champions have been ‘exploring a surprise move’ for the 17-year-old, who’s said to be ‘aware of Bayern’s strong interest and intentions’, although the Bavarian club hadn’t yet contacted the Reds.
Merseyside chiefs have duly maintained that the winger – who impressed on his senior debut for England last Saturday – is not for sale under any circumstances.
Speaking to Football Insider, Mick Brown claimed that Liverpool will be seething over the manner in which Bayern have purportedly approached Ngumoha behind their backs.
The ex-Manchester United chief scout said: “Liverpool will be doing everything in their power to stop Ngumoha leaving. They’ve already lost Salah, and this young lad has come into the team and made a splash.
“He’s obviously got great talent and they rate him very highly, so they need look no further than the options they’ve already got available, because he already looks like he’s ready to come in and play a regular part in the side.
“I was always under the impression that approaching players without the club’s knowledge was illegal, but it always seems to happen and to be allowed to happen. Of course, these things happen, but it’s not usually as out in the open as this has been, and that’s not going to go down well.
“I have no doubt Liverpool will be fuming, because their best talents are being approached by clubs like Bayern Munich and they have no knowledge of it. Liverpool are not going to let that happen, they’re not going to let him go, and especially not to Bayern Munich now that this has happened.”
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Considering the impact Ngumoha has made at first-team level at such a young age and his enormous potential to develop into a truly world-class star, he’ll be among the last players that Liverpool would be open to selling this summer.
That Bayern have seemingly approached him without the Reds’ knowledge will surely have put noises out of joint in the Anfield boardroom, and as Brown says, it’ll have made Merseyside chiefs all the more determined to hold onto him and firmly reject any further expressions of interest from Munich.
Also, with Andoni Iraola having a track record for trusting in youth (and openly pledging to do so after taking the reins at LFC), we can expect to see plenty more of the 17-year-old in the Premier League and Champions League next season.
Nothwithstanding Ngumoha’s exceptional early-career trajectory, Liverpool have a sparsity of attacking options as things stand, with Mo Salah having left the club and Hugo Ekitike not expected back from injury for another few months.
Therefore, any notion that they’d even entertain the idea of selling the gifted no.73 to Bayern this summer is downright laughable.
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There’s a risk we could lose him because his contract runs out in two years. He turns 18 in August if FSG want to keep him as soon as he’s 18 give him a new 6 year contract with the wages he wants or accept that he will be leaving for a bigger club,
It’s a raheem sterling moment all over again, I wouldn’t be suprised if he joins Manchester city. Pay him the wages he wants or he will leave.
What club is bigger than us? Real maybe but City or Bayern? don’t make me laugh! are you sure you’re a Liverpool supporter? as far as i’m concerned any player that wants to go can go, we don’t need to throw more money at them, they are lucky to be at Liverpool. Slot’s problem was he didn’t realise we are the most successful club in Britain – he thought he was managing a club of Tottenham’s or City’s size
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