Liverpool planning to offer attacker new contract
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesLiverpool supporters endured a turbulent last season off the pitch, having to deal with high-profile contract standoffs regarding Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Having finally resolved those protracted negotiations, the last issue Reds fans want is fresh uncertainty over player futures.
However, Ibrahima Konate finds himself on the brink of similar speculation as he is now in the final year of his contract.
The towering centre-back has begun the campaign shakily, with fans online openly questioning his commitment to the Anfield project amid Real Madrid links.
But besides Konate’s issue, there is some positive news on the contract front.
Italian reporter Nicolò Schira has reported that Liverpool is planning to offer Rio Ngumoha a new deal imminently:
“Liverpool are planning Rio Ngumoha’s contract extension until 2028 with the option [to extend].
“The deal between the winger (born in 2008) and LFC currently expires in 2026, but it will be renewed because Ngumoha is considered a future top player.”
The 16-year-old winger was brought on in the 96th minute by manager Arne Slot as Liverpool desperately chased a winner against a stubborn Newcastle side on Monday night.
Just days shy of his 17th birthday, expertly steered in a first-time finish from Mohamed’s Salah’s sqaure ball.
His goal held great historical significance as Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goal scorer at 16 years and 361 days old, surpassing Ben Woodburn’s record by nearly eight months.
Speaking on the night, Ngumoha said to liverpoolfc.com:
“Normally, last season especially, the Academy coaches and even the first-team coaches are always saying, ‘Make the back post, make the back post.’
“The fact that I made the back post is just crazy… when I saw it with Mo [Salah] and then Dom [Szoboszlai] putting it through his legs, I was like one-v-one and I just smashed it.”
“I’m 16 but I don’t want my age to show that I can’t play with the older players
I want to prove a point that I can play with not just people my age but many ages above.
“But like I said, there are people at the club who are always helping me and I’m always learning and improving, so I can’t complain.”
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