Liverpool look set to lose Luis Diaz and need to decide whether to spend big on a replacement.

The Premier League season gets underway in just under a month’s time and the Reds have the job of raising the curtain on the 2025/26 campaign with a home game against Bournemouth.

Before then, however, the futures of many of their key players hang in the balance, none more so than winger Luis Diaz.

The Colombian is subject to interest from Bayern Munich and the German club have already had a bid swiftly rejected for him, although they are expected to return with another soon.

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The 28-year-old is open to a move and appears to be more out than in at this moment in time, with the Reds needing to decide whether they should sign a replacement.

However, after Liverpool released pre-season training footage, Reds fans believe that the Colombian’s replacement is already at the club.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Pre-season is a time when Arne Slot can experiment with his team and work out which players deserve a chance, with the youngsters the most eager to impress.

Rio Ngumoha is no exception despite being just 16 and after impressing against Preston in their opening friendly, he has certainly caught the eye.

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Adding to this, Liverpool released an ‘Inside Training’ video on their YouTube channel and it captured Ngumoha dribbling past Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong with ease, leaving fans to suggest that he is ready to step up.

One supporter wrote on X: “He literally has a game similar to Diaz’s but with plenty of room for improvement.

We need to sell Diaz and start giving opportunities to Ngumoha.”

Another put: “Who needs another winger that’s a future 150m+ player right there.” A third added: “He’s actually so cold, he automatically puts defenders on the back foot and attacks aggressively, this guy will be special.”

READ MORE: What pleased Arne Slot the most about Rio Ngumoha’s ‘explosive’ Liverpool display vs Preston

A fourth wrote: “We need minutes next season for this guy if Diaz leaves, do not buy another winger, let’s put Ngumoha on the map as he deserves it.”

Another believes he would be strong competition for Cody Gakpo, putting: “Probably ready to be backup to Gakpo next season and take over within the next couple of years.”

A sixth supporter put: “I just wish he gets minutes next season this kid is really good,” while another simply added: “We’ve got a talent on our hands, don’t we?”

A final fan summed it up rather nicely, writing: “This boy is going to be a problem,” followed by three laughing emojis.

Many will say that at 16, Ngumoha is far too young to even be considered by Slot, but if you are good enough, you are old enough.

The teenager had big hype around him when he arrived from Chelsea and he has taken every chance he has got so far, and next season he might get a whole load more.

With Diaz and Darwin Nunez very likely to leave, the Reds will have vacancies left towards the top of the pitch, and if the Englishman shines in pre-season, he might be the one given an opportunity.

Ngumoha previously said he believes he can win the Ballon d’Or so he is certainly not short of confidence, and if there is one thing Liverpool fans now know about him, it is that he isn’t short of talent either.


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