Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is excited by Rio Ngumoha but believes Harvey Elliott needs to leave Anfield
Liverpool's English striker #73 Rio Ngumoha (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Liverpool's English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones (L) and Liverpool's English midfielder #19 Harvey Elliott during the first of two pre season friendly football matches between Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 4, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool's English striker #73 Rio Ngumoha (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Liverpool's English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones (L) and Liverpool's English midfielder #19 Harvey Elliott during the first of two pre season friendly football matches between Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 4, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha celebrates with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott after scoring for Liverpool against Athletic Club in pre-season(Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
It has been an unprecedented summer of spending at Liverpool. But their biggest deal could yet be to come.
The Reds have so far committed more than £300m in transfer fees on six big-money deals for Florian Wirtz, who could eventually cost a British transfer record fee of £116m, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni.
But they are done yet. Liverpool opened talks last week with Crystal Palace over a move for their captain and centre-back Marc Guehi. And they maintain an interest in Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle United striker is at the centre of the summer's biggest transfer saga. He has made it abundantly clear he wants to leave the Magpies for the Premier League champions.
But the Reds have not returned with an improved offer having seen their initial £110m bid rejected. It has been reported that Newcastle want £150m for Isak, which would obliterate the British transfer record.
There is a strong argument to suggest Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been left a little light in attacking areas following the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Ben Doak.
While Wirtz can play off the left as well as his preferred No.10 position, Slot's current senior options comprise Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, impressive new boy Ekitike and Federico Chiesa, who all scored as the Reds got the defence of their title off to a winning start by beating Bournemouth 4-2 in an Anfield thriller on Friday.
The Dutchman could also call on teenage talent Rio Ngumoha after he caught the eye in pre-season with some scintillating displays and goals.
The 16-year-old was an unused substitute against Bournemouth and against Palace in the Community Shield.
But Ngumoha has been told by a former Liverpool winger that he has a big part to play in the 2025-26 campaign.
Jermaine Pennant, who made 81 appearances for the Reds during his playing days, scoring three goals and creating 17, said: "I think Rio can make a real push into the first team. Especially with Harvey Elliott potentially leaving. Rio doesn’t look out of place.
"He’s playing against men and he looks comfortable. He’s skipping past players and beating them. He’s earned the right to be part of the squad and be in the first-team changing room, training with the first team.
"They’d be stupid not to include him in their plans with the goals he’s scored. They’ve been good goals where he’s dribbling past players from his own half.
"When it’s time to give Gakpo a rest, for example he should play because he’s made a name for himself."
The £25m exit of Doak to Bournemouth means Liverpool have now raised more than £215m in sales so far this summer following the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£10m), Jarell Quansah (£35m), Caoimhin Kelleher (£18m), Tyler Morton (£15m), Nat Phillips (£3m), Diaz (£65m) and Darwin Nunez (£45m).
As Pennant, who became the most expensive teenager in history when he signed for Arsenal for £2m from Notts County in 1999, has referenced, Elliott could be the next player out of the door.
The star of England's European Under-21 Championship-winning squad in the summer is a lifelong Red. But with the arrival of Wirtz, his opportunities for regular starts have been further hit.
RB Leipzig have been tipped to sign Elliott but Pennant thinks that Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, who have just watched bitter-rivals Arsenal steal a deal for Palace talisman Eberechi Eze from under their noses, would both be good destinations.
Speaking to AceOdds.com, Pennant said: "I don’t think Harvey can stay and fight for his place because we don’t know what his best place is? We don’t know if he’s an 8, a 10, or out wide right or left. He hasn’t got a fixed position.
"He’s an amazing utility man but there is a team out there that will see what he has to offer and can find a role for him. He’s a great player and he’s chipped in each season.
"(James) Maddison is injured for example and Elliott played a huge role in the England U21’swinning the recent tournament so a number of clubs could benefit from having him. Aston Villa are one, Tottenham could benefit too.
"Any other team in the Prem could use someone like him."
Liverpool return to action on Monday when they travel to St James' Park for a powder-keg clash with Newcastle.