Rio Ngumoha says he will look to play on both wings for Liverpool next season, potentially helping the Reds fill the void left by the departed Mohamed Salah.
The 17-year-old is one of the most exciting young Liverpool players in years, with Arne Slot hailing his unique ability while working with him last season:
“He has such a special quality, which you don’t see much in football anymore, dominating the one-vs-one situation,” Slot told reporters. “That’s exactly what he did when he scored his goal. Making the ball free by twisting and turning and then hitting it in – like a Mo Salah finish, I would say!”
Victor Munoz may have arrived from Osasuna, but at least one more winger is needed for Liverpool this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola looking like a leading contender.
Despite this, Ngumoha also represents a great option, and speaking to LFCTV [via This Is Anfield], the teenager talked up his versatility moving forward.
“Yeah, definitely [playing on the right is another option now]. I think being unpredictable off both sides is key. Obviously, everyone knows I can play on the left, but on the right I feel like I’m improving and I’m getting better. So, yeah, definitely off the left and the right this season.”
Can Rio Ngumoha be Mo Salah’s heir at Liverpool?
Ngumoha is a player with remarkable potential, already making huge strides over the past 12 months, and the fact that he sees himself as a versatile winger is a bonus for Liverpool.
Replacing Salah is going to be close to impossible, given his legendary status, but if the Reds can sign an elite right-sided option and also have Ngumoha there, they will be in a healthy position.
The young Englishman is at his best on the left flank, allowing him to cut inside and wreak havoc, but he also has the pace to beat opponents down the right, hitting the byline and crossing with his ever-improving end product.
If Ngumoha stays focused and avoids serious injury, he can become a truly world-class attacker for Liverpool – he has spoken about wanting to win the Ballon d’Or in the past – helping make up for the loss of Salah alongside another new winger.
Henry is an experienced football writer with a huge passion and knowledge of Liverpool.
He is also a main contributor for This Is Anfield, one of the world's biggest Reds-related sites, where he writes features and news, and covers matchday content.
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