Rio Ngumoha could cause Liverpool a big problem after scoring the winner against Newcastle – opinion
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Rio Ngumoha saved the day for Liverpool but it might come at a big cost.
The Reds have plenty of talent in their academy and when they are trusted to come off the bench for the first-team, that says a lot about just how good they really are.
Arne Slot has a big pool of youngsters to choose from, but 16-year-old Ngumoha stands head and shoulders above the rest.
The winger was trusted with a short cameo against Newcastle on Monday night, with the Englishman certainly taking his chance by scoring the winner in the 110th minute of the match.
He earned Liverpool all three points and has really announced himself to the rest of the division, although he might have done so at a huge cost to his current employers.
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
When Ngumoha made the switch from Chelsea to Liverpool in the summer of 2024, the Blues were left absolutely seething to the point where they banned the Reds’ scouts from attending academy matches.
Not only did they believe that they had lost ‘generational talent’, but they did so without being compensated for it, with the Reds paying nothing for his services.
However, last November Chelsea called a tribunal in regard to this, with the hope being they can get some money for the young star, although they are still waiting for the verdict.
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And, according to the Daily Mail, the west London club believe that Ngumoha scoring on his debut will only increase the compensation they will receive, highlighting how Liverpool won the three points but at what cost?
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A Premier League panel will make the final decision, but when that will be is not yet known, suggesting that the more the 16-year-old shines, the worse it might be for Liverpool financially.
Ngumoha turns 17 on Friday 29th August, with this the day he is set to get his first professional contract in football.
Tribunals are fairly common in football, with their purpose being to ensure players under 24 can move fairly between clubs, while compensation is paid where needed.
This one has gone on a while but Liverpool have been in a similar position before with Harvey Elliott, as Fulham demanded compensation when he was prised away back in 2019.
Eventually, the Reds were required to pay them £4.3m, a very meagre fee given the talent he possesses and what he could be sold for now.
So, when Liverpool do eventually have to pay for Ngumoha, it is likely that it will still be very little, with his value now being significantly higher and something that will only continue to rise.