Rio Ngumoha forces Liverpool to ABANDON €100m transfer

Liverpool have conducted a remarkable transfer campaign thus far. Sporting director Richard Hughes is overseeing a squad refit the likes of which has rarely been seen before.

Over £290m has been spent on new talent all over the pitch - with Florian Wirtz arriving for a British record fee that could reach £116m.

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Others who have come through the door include Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni.

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In order to finance the summer transfer spend - as well as to make room in the squad - we have seen many high-profile departures.

Liverpool's attacking options

Out have gone Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez from the frontline - while others including Jarell Quansah, Ben Doak, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Nat Phillips have all walked through the exit door.

The deals overall have left Liverpool looking a little light in attack - especially if they fail to land Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

If the Geordies stick to their guns and decline to sell the Swede then it’s been reckoned that Hughes and Arne Slot will seek attacking cover elsewhere.

Barcola and Fofana linked

Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain has been mentioned as a potential arrival while fellow Ligue 1 star Malick Fofana has also been linked.

Both are left-wing talents who could be available for different reasons.

Barcola has slipped down the pecking order at Parc des Princes with Luis Enrique also boasting the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue at his disposal.

And Fofana could be sold in order for Lyon to solve their significant financial trouble.

Liverpool clear pathway for Ngumoha

But don’t expect the Reds to make a bid for either this summer - as according to Paul Joyce in the Times the club have prioritised Rio Ngumoha instead.

“Liverpool have said they would rather create a pathway for him than sign Bradley Barcola or Malick Fofana,” he wrote, adding that the England youth “sparkled” in preseason.

The Reds have got Cody Gakpo and perhaps Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz as options for the left wing this season.

To that extent it would be no surprise to see Ngumoha receive increased game time this season despite being aged only 16.

He joined the club from Chelsea’s academy last summer - forcing his way through Liverpool’s age groups before taking his place with Arne Slot’s first team.

It tells you a lot that Liverpool would prefer to stick with Ngumoha rather than paying €60m or more for either Barcola or Fofana.

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