Ex-Liverpool star dismisses Rio Ngumoha theory as Liverpool seeks Mohamed Salah replacement

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesRio NgumohaEx-Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has dismissed a theory involving Rio Ngumoha as Liverpool seeks to replace Mohamed Salah this summer when he departs for pastures newRio Ngumoha on the Liverpool substitutes' bench at Anfield.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)Liverpool has "holes" to fill in attack next season, and that burden should not be placed on the shoulders of 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. "He's not going to start in the next season, I'm sure.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah to announce next club as Liverpool farewell plunged into doubtREAD MORE: Jurgen Klopp gives honest assessment of Florian Wirtz's first season at Liverpool"Salah's leaving, so it might be big for him [Ngumoha] to go straight in.

They know the lad's mentality."They know whether they want to put that pressure on him from the start of next season to be the main man at Liverpool.Rio Ngumoha and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)"Or do they want to take it off and just keep him developing nicely? It would be in no one best interests to rush him and risk there being problems down the line.“I think it's a case of developing," Cole continued.

"It's about the family unit around him and the structure the club put around him."It's about not overexposing him, no over-reliance on him. I think that's the responsibility.