Back in March, Steven Gerrard got involved in Arne Slot’s team selection. The Liverpool legend had a clear call to the Dutchman: Use Rio Ngumoha on the pitch from the start! The teenager does more on the pitch than Cody Gakpo,” Gerrard said. Rio also got the opportunities, but less than 1000 minutes in the match arena last season was not what the shooting star himself expected. Now the 17-year-old is making demands on Andoni Iraola.
According to Football-Insider’s sources , Rio Ngumoha is seeking assurances of more playing time under Andoni Iraola before next season, before signing a new Liverpool contract.
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Rio Ngumoha requires insurance from Iraola
Ngumoha was the creative addition Liverpool needed to qualify for the Champions League, the 17-year-old winger slammed open the door to the big stage in his first senior season at Anfield, but still felt underutilised as Liverpool struggled to secure their Champions League ticket. Slot gave Ngumoha just five Premier League starts, with three coming in the final weeks of the season.
Liverpool are of course eager to tie the teenage star to a new contract, the current one running out in 2028. The uncertainty factor is that Bayern Munich have expressed their interest, it is reported.
Bayern have in turn been on a deal in the Premier League for Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, according to Football-Insider , Rio Ngumoha is also on the wish list.
Liverpool are not considering possible offers from Bayern Munich. They consider him one of the most exciting players to come through the club in a long time, but Ngumoha was obviously a little frustrated that he might not be playing as often as he thought he should have done last season.
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This means that Andoni Iraola will have to “sell” the project for the coming seasons, where a 17-year-old is assigned a role he will be happy with.
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