**Arsenal “retain an interest” in Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha amid some doubts over his future, according to a key update from reliable journalist Ben Jacobs.**
The 18-year-old is one of the Reds’ most prized assets, considering his vast ceiling as a player, and he has the potential to develop into a world-class player over time.
In fact, Ngumoha himself has talked up the idea of [winning the Ballon d’Or](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wonderkid-rio-ngumoha-joins-premier-leagues-youngest-scorers-with-dramatic-liverpool-winner/view/news/457411) one day, so he clearly has a huge amount of confidence in his own ability:
_“I really believe I can win the Ballon d’Or one day. I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.”_
Now, speaking to [_Give Me Sport_](https://www.givemesport.com/arsenal-transfer-update-rio-ngumoha-liverpool-jacobs/), Jacobs has claimed that Arsenal are still eyeing a move for Ngumoha, but Liverpool remain “calm” about the situation overall:
_“It is true to my understanding that Arsenal retain an interest in Rio Ngumoha. Leipzig have looked in the past, and Bayern Munich liked Ngumoha over the summer as well, but Liverpool made it clear in the last window, Ngumoha was not for sale._
_“The player was told that his pathway will give him opportunities on the left and on the right, and as a consequence, more minutes and appearances as well. And Liverpool’s intent is to get Ngumoha to sign a new contract, we wait and see what the players’ perspective is, but Arsenal are kind of monitoring the situation._
_“Nothing more than that at this stage, because Liverpool have made it clear over the summer that they were not going to entertain any business as far as Ngumoha was concerned, and still, they would prefer to keep, and they want Ngumoha to sign a new deal. So Liverpool, as it stands, feel quite calm about that particular situation.”_
**Liverpool can’t lose Rio Ngumoha, especially to a rival**
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Ngumoha is a player Liverpool have to look to keep hold of for many years, and if he does end up leaving, it needs to be for an astronomical transfer fee.
Even more important is not losing the teenage attacker to a direct Premier League rival, with the Gunners no doubt loving the idea of having both Max Dowman and the Reds star in their ranks.
It would be a bizarre decision from a Liverpool perspective, and only selling him to a European club would make any sense, even though that must still be avoided.
But hopefully, Ngumoha is happy in a Reds shirt currently, and sees the club going in a positive direction under Andoni Iraola this season and beyond.
It isn’t going to be easy for the Englishman to earn regular starts, especially after the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, but he is already a vital squad player who can shine on both flanks.
If Ngumoha continues to progress at his current rate, it is only a matter of time until he feels undroppable, and he will hopefully develop into one of the best wingers in the world.