Keith Wyness suggests Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha 'punishment' from tribunal - 'I don't think it's fair'
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Alex Oakhill
Sun 7 September 2025 11:18, UK
Liverpool will be more than happy to accept their punishment regarding Rio Ngumoha’s move to Anfield from Chelsea.
Ngumoha scored a dramatic late winner against Newcastle United on his Premier League debut, alerting much of the footballing world to his potential.
The 17-year-old came through the Chelsea academy before leaving the West London club last summer and making the switch to Merseyside.
However, Liverpool may be forced to pay compensation to Enzo Maresca’s side, with the figure expected to be around the £5million mark.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the Reds would be delighted with that outcome, as it is little more than a slap on the wrist.
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This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen CEO.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that the current process isn’t fair and more needs to be done to protect the clubs that are working hard with their academies.
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Ngumoha spent eight years at Chelsea, but was free to make the move to Liverpool last year after failing to agree contract terms with the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Wyness added that in situations like these, the sides losing their academy products should be allowed a sell-on clause to reflect the effort they put into developing youth talent.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve been through a few tribunals before in terms of this sort of similar situation, and I’ve been on both sides of it.
I don’t think it’s fair.
I think that would be more realistic and reflect the value of younger players more, and might stop a lot of clubs from interfering in some ways.
“With the system as we have it right now, I don’t think it’s going to be much more than a smack on the wrist, and I think Liverpool are more than happy to accept that.
“I’ve had to face it with Chelsea trying to look at some of the young players and Everton as well, where they’re offering such inducements to parents, like houses and cars, and it’s something that is happening more and more these days.
“It really is an issue, and there’s got to be more teeth to the tribunals to try and protect those clubs that are working hard with the academy system to spot the talent and try and train them.
So I think there’s got to be a revision of the sanctions that tribunals can place.”
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media
Meanwhile, Liverpool are ready to bide their time and wait until next summer before launching another bid to sign Marc Guehi, sources have told Football Insider.
Guehi‘s highly anticipated move to Anfield collapsed at the eleventh hour on deadline day, after Oliver Glasner threatened to walk away from Crystal Palace if the 25-year-old was sold without a replacement.
Palace will therefore retain their skipper’s services until January at least, and Guehi will be available for around £25million if Liverpool do re-ignite their interest.
Sources have said that if the Reds are happy with their defensive options once the new year comes around, they will choose to wait until the England international is out of contract next summer.
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