How much Rio Ngumoha is set to be paid per week once he signs his new Liverpool contract - journalist
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Rio Ngumoha will be eligible to sign a contract on Friday when he turns 17.
Liverpool’s academy is one of the most prestigious in England, with the Reds producing top talents that go on to achieve great things.
They have also been on a mission over the last few years to poach stars away from other academies, with Ngumoha one of these examples.
Chelsea have been left fuming over the youngster’s decision and are still demanding compensation, but how much that will be is not yet known.
However, what is now known is how much the 16-year-old will be paid each week by Liverpool once he signs his first professional contract, with this expected to be on Friday once he turns 17.
His market value has certainly increased exponentially over the summer, suggesting that he might be in line for a hefty pay rise, although that does not seem to be the case.
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Money can, unfortunately, be the motivating factor in some instances, with this something that makes the world, and especially football, go around.
But, Liverpool try to do things a little differently, at least in the academy that is, meaning that Ngumoha will not get the eye-watering paycheck that many may think.
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According to Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele, Ngumoha is currently on just £300 a week due to being on a scholarship contract, although this will change on Friday.
Anfield insiders are reporting that Ngumoha will earn a modest wage of £1,000 per week, still very little given his talent.
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The reason for this, however, is quite simple, as academy director Alex Inglethorpe introduced a wage cap not too long ago, meaning younger players are only allowed to earn just over £50,000 a year.
This means that Ngumoha is at the very maximum limit of this for now, although this will likely change very soon should he continue to impress.
Inglethorpe also banned cars with engines above 1.3 litres, meaning that if he does eventually pass his driving test, with the winger legally allowed to start taking lessons from Friday, he cannot arrive to training in a big, flashy car.
Ngumoha once said he wanted to win the Ballon d’Or, a statement that seemed to show a little hubris at the time, but he has backed it up when given the chance.
Of course, he is nowhere near that level yet and he needs to get into the Liverpool team regularly first, but based on the talent he possesses, he is not far off getting consistent minutes.
Coaches at the club have been seriously impressed with Ngumoha in training and in pre-season games, suggesting he is held in high regard.
His short cameo off the bench against Newcastle has also only provided further evidence why he deserves minutes this season, suggesting that new wage could be increased in the not too near future.