Andoni Iraola will run the rule over his new squad this summer and Rio Ngumoha is far from the only young talent who he will hope to get the most out of next season
07:00, 19 Jun 2026
Trey Nyoni arrives before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford.
Trey Nyoni arrives before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola made a point of mentioning his desire to work with youth players during his first Liverpool interview, in just one of a few comments that went down well.
Quite clearly, after a season of injuries, Liverpool needs to add more depth to its squad this summer, and while there will be transfers that follow Victor Munoz through the door, youth prospects can add to that too.
It was undoubtedly overplayed just how much reluctance there was from Arne Slot to turn to the academy — Rio Ngumoha, for instance, was being saved from burnout, and throwing him in as the solution to a series of troubling results would not have been fair — but Iraola inherits the player (and others) a year further down the line.
At Bournemouth, the Spaniard developed the likes of Dean Huijsen — now of Real Madrid — and later Rayan, with both players seemingly heading for the top. The latter was so good after arriving in England in January that he made Brazil's roster for the World Cup.
And in addition to Ngumoha, there is another huge talent that Iraola will be able to call upon: Trey Nyoni.
Curtis Jones has interest from Inter Milan and Alexis Mac Allister has been put forward as someone who is not untouchable in this window given his performances last season and his contract situation.
Trey Nyoni during the FA Cup fifth round match between Wolves and Liverpool.
Trey Nyoni during the FA Cup fifth round match between Wolves and Liverpool.(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
If one of those players was to leave, Liverpool would need to sign a senior replacement. However, should they stay, adding depth in the center of the park may not be required: Nyoni is ready for a jump up.
"He's a top bloke and an unbelievable player," U21s manager Rob Page told Liverpool.com in March. "He gets on great with the lads and he's still a young lad himself.
"You talk about football intelligence on the pitch but he's got it and then some, so you can see why he's going to have a bright future in the game.
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"He's brave on the ball, he can play as a six or an eight, he's so intelligent, and he knows when to drop the ball to create a three."
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Still only 18, Nyoni made 14 appearances at senior level last season. Whoever the head coach was to be next year, that figure (unless he headed out on loan) was going to increase.
Nyoni is supremely talented and has already shown that in flashes. While he won't be rushed, there needs to be a pathway to more regular action.
Comfortable in possession and a mature, calm head in the middle of the pitch, the former Leicester prospect is ready for a bigger role at Anfield. He won't be starting every single game, but the England youth star is very much one to watch.