Liverpool could replace Mohamed Salah without paying a penny as 'internal talks held'

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14:53, Thu, Jul 9, 2026 Updated: 14:54, Thu, Jul 9, 2026 Andoni Iraola has taken over at Liverpool following Arne Slot's sacking (Image: Getty)It’s once again another summer where there are more questions than answers for Liverpool. It didn’t work out for them, meaning this year, the question is how new boss Andoni Iraola will shape his Liverpool team following Arne Slot’s departure.

There were initial suggestions that Liverpool would spend big, with Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola mooted as potential options, but rumours surrounding the pair seem to have gone cold.Instead, Liverpool could have a cost-free solution right underneath their nose… Rio Ngumoha. The youngster enjoyed a breakthrough season last time around and has fully established himself as a member of Liverpool’s first-team squad.His performances even earned him a spot in England’s pre-World Cup training camp, where Ngumoha made his debut in a warm-up game against New Zealand.

Big things are expected of the 17-year-old heading into the new campaign, and there have been some suggestions he could have an even bigger role to play.Rio Ngumoha has dazzled for the Reds and earned an England call up (Image: Getty)According to the Liverpool ECHO, the idea of using Ngumoha as a right-sided forward has been floated internally. Ngumoha is naturally right-footed, which he showed to great effect cutting in off the right-hand side last season, so it would require a slight change in style.But there have been occasions where Ngumoha has featured off the right, while Iraola has previously used right-footed forwards in that position as well.