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Liverpool already have their own version of Diomande in "generational" teen winger - opinion

Liverpool have suffered this season, and while they were well worth their money in a hard-fought draw against Premier League table toppers Arsenal last time out, it's understandable that FSG are looking to make a few improvements in the January transfer market.

Signing a defender has got to be a priority for Arne Slot's side, but the club's interest in a left-sided forward has been well-documented in recent months too, even though Liverpool decided against matching the intensity of Manchester City's interest in Antoine Semenyo, who completed a £62.5m move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this week.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match

Could Liverpool have bigger fish to fry? Semenyo isn't the only talented winger on the radar, with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande also of interest.

The latest on Liverpool's interest in Yan Diomande

Diomande, 19, has arguably been the Bundesliga breakout star of the current campaign.

Having scored seven goals and supplied three assists in all competitions this season, the two-sided winger has gathered quite the trail of curious suitors,

yan-diomande-rb-leipzig-man-city

He's "destined to be special", according to journalist Bence Bocsak, already ranking among the top 1% of winger and attacking midfielders across Europe for successful take-ons and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, with a strong defensive profile besides.

A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.

Liverpool want a piece, having been named as an interested party in the £87m-rated Ivorian winger. That price tag, it must be said, could prove a stumbling block.

For his part, Diomande seems keen on the move to Merseyside.

The teenager revealed on a recent livestream that he is interested in joining Liverpool, coming from a family of Reds supporters. Liverpool may just make their move for this up-and-coming superstar, but given his lofty valuation and inexperience, it would come with a measure of risk.

And when Liverpool already have their own version of the prodigy, perhaps it's worth holding fire.

Liverpool have their own Diomande

Liverpool might just have a rising star every bit as talented as Diomande in Rio Ngumoha, who has settled into life as a first-team player this season.

Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha

Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha

Having been poached from Chelsea's academy in 2024, the lightning-fast winger made a smattering of showings last year before impressing throughout pre-season and proving he is a "generational" Premier League prospect, as has been commented by journalist Kieran Gill.

Of his six Premier League appearances, none have come from the opening, but Ngumoha certainly made the masses attentive of his presence after calmly netting a last-gasp winner against Newcastle United at St. James' Park back in August.

The 17-year-old - who was only 16 at the time - is so good that his former youth coach, Saul-Isakkson Hurst, once even said, "I expect him to see him on the Ballon d'Or list one day."

In this, we can surmise that his ceiling aligns somewhere high up above and near Diomande, whose £87m price tag makes a firm comment on his quality and potential yet to come.

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But as one of the youngest goalscorers in Premier League history and with the capacity to grow that goal tally to elite ground, Ngumoha is one worth persisting with, and Liverpool must indeed ensure they do not block his road toward a regular staring berth in Slot's team.

Ngumoha hasn't played that much football this season; certainly, his minutes pale in comparison to his first-team attacking peers at Liverpool.

Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha

But as Slot rightly pointed out, the England U17 star has played more football than any other player in his age bracket across all competitions (for Premier League players). His time will come.

Should FSG strike a deal for Diomande, he might find himself impeded, though, and it's for this reason that waiving interest in the Ivorian and instead entrusting Ngumoha with walking up the pathway to the top could be the order of the day for this hungry Liverpool side.

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