Liverpool are reportedly set to lose a talented prospect from their academy to one of their biggest rivals.
The Reds have made a happy habit of acquiring prodigious gems from the underage setups of other clubs across the UK, with Harvey Elliott (Fulham), Rio Ngumoha (Chelsea) and Trey Nyoni (Leicester) among the standout examples in recent years.
However, the shoe is now on the other foot as a certain club from along the M62 put the final touches on the signing of an up-and-coming talent from Merseyside.
On Monday evening, Fabrizio Romano took to X to report that Manchester United have completed a deal to sign Liverpool academy midfielder Isaac Konde, with the Italian including his trademark 'here we go'.
The 16-year-old is 'all set' to join the Red Devils after 'formal steps' were completed over the past couple of days.

#ngumoha

For most Liverpool fans, the club's business in the 2026 transfer window likely represents something of a mixed bag. In the end the Reds got their big money move for Bradley Barcola across the line, and the 24year-old French international left winger certainly ticks a lot of boxes on the need front.
His ability to progress the ball and create high qaulity goal scoring opportunities is elite, and the rapid winger's underlying numbers were better than the goal or ******* ist every 148 minutes he had last season—and his numbers hold up in the Champions League and with France at the international level.
Squad balance issues aside and leaving out the fact Mohamed Salah played on the right, Liverpool spent £125M to sign their so-called Salah replacement and it's hard to see an obvious better option they could have or should have moved for. Yet it's hard to completely set aside those squad balance issues.
Liverpool head into the season with four wingers in Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Muñoz all more comfortable on the left. They have no players of that calibre naturally comfortable on the right. No players. Zero. Unless we think this is the year Federico Chiesa comes good. And stays fit.
In defence, the opportunistic signing of centre half Ronald Araujo was heartening, but a deadline day push for Chelsea's Malo Gusto on loan highlighted that the club are desperately thin at fullback, the options they have aren't entirely convincing, and the club knew it—and then failed to fix things.

#Liverpool #salah #squad #international

Liverpool view Cody Gakpo as a proven multi-functional Premier League attacker and he has shown that with a goal and an **** ist in their first two games this season.
But all summer, the understanding has been that if the club bring in the attacking players they want, they would not stand in the way of Gakpo if a solid offer came in.
Given how late in the transfer window the talks are taking place between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Anfield side will now consider the situation before sanctioning any move.
Liverpool are also hoping to bring in another winger before deadline day.
With the arrival of Victor Munoz, the emergence of Rio Ngumoha and Bradley Barcola's imminent move from PSG, Gakpo is well aware that he may not be first choice any more, so if a move does happen it would not come as a surprise.

#gakpo #league #given

Liverpool still need to do a lot of work to their team before the summer window slams shut at the end of the month.
Most people thought that the Reds would make a lot of changes to their ranks and, while they've already welcomed three new players, four have left.
And, to make things even worse, Mohamed Salah still hasn't been replaced yet.
Indeed, Rio Ngumoha was used on the right against Newcastle on Sunday but, since he's still only 18 years old, it's a lot of pressure to make him the Reds' first choice for that position.
However, it's not only the Reds' attack that could do with upgrading.

#still #make #mohamed #salah

Liverpool are expected to be busy in the final stages of this summer's transfer window.
Despite a poor midfield showing against Newcastle in Andoni Iraola's Premier League opener on Sunday the Reds are unlikely to go into the market for a specialist No6.
Instead the focus will be on improving the frontline further. Liverpool used Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo as their wide forward starting options against the Toon at St. James' Park.
It's simply not enough for Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes however - who are still reeling from the loss of Mohamed Salah on a free transfer to Trabzonspor.
Deals are live for several forward - per reports - with Yankuba Minteh and Ibrahim Mbaye said to be under consideration.

#newcastle #premier

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club pundits have been discussing Andoni Iraola's "worrying" attacking options this season, with BBC Sport's Liverpool reporter Aadam Patel confirming "a number of clubs" are currently monitoring Cody Gakpo.
Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend said: "Cody Gakpo is their biggest attacking threat at the minute, yet he is the one player Liverpool actually want to get rid of.
"Rio Ngumoha is young, willing and hungry but he didn't have the affect he would've liked against Newcastle. Florian Wirtz is nice without being too threatening. Alexander Isak wasn't up to speed again."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "It has been a long, long time since anyone has seen Isak play well. It is a difficult position for him to be in and it is unfortunate he has been unfit for so long.
"The basic issue with Liverpool is I'm not sure they have the players to do what they want to do. That seemed to be the problem for Arne Slot and you do wonder if it will be the same problem for Andoni Iraola."

#Liverpool #long #andoni #isak

The beginning of the Premier League season has come fast at Liverpool, and it seems that the Reds are simply not prepared for the onslaught of games.
After the loss of Mo Salah at the end of last season and the switch of managers to Andoni Iraola, necessary reinforcements have yet to arrive.
At the very least, Liverpool require another attacker. Rio Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz are both predominantly left-side options, Cody Gakpo is consistently linked with a move away, and Hugo Ekitike is out until at least December after rupturing his Achilles earlier this year.
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola seems to be the biggest name consistently linked to Liverpool as their attacking reinforcement for the year. The France international is 23 years old, left-footed, and naturally a left winger but capable on the right too.

#left #seems #least #premier

When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner.
They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point.
Andoni Iraola said afterwards that his side did not deserve to lose and, to their credit, they never gave up as they earned a 2-2 draw.
A defeat would have been Liverpool's first on the opening weekend since 2012-13. A draw will do wonders for their spirit, but it will certainly not mask their concerns.
"It is probably not the result you want when you come in before the game, but we definitely deserve this point and even more," Iraola told BBC Radio 5 Live.

#iraola #draw

Liverpool are desperately trying to add to their wide forward options before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Ever since Mohamed Salah left on a free transfer Andoni Iraola's squad has looked short of wingers - especially on the right side.
It's been suggested that Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha may have to switch over the the right-hand side in order to address the shortfall.
But the ideal scenario will be to recruit at least one - if not two - widemen by the deadline.
It's no secret that Bradley Barcola is the No1 name in the frame. Paris Saint-Germain are seeking around £145m for the 23-year-old France international.

#transfer #side

Liverpool are expected to reward one of their most exciting young talents with a new long-term contract and ***** per pay rise at Anfield.
One of the few positives from the 2025/26 season was the emergence of Rio Ngumoha as a genuine first-team star for the Reds, with the 17-year-old going from Premier League debutant to England international in just over nine months.
The teenage winger routinely got fans off their seats in L4 with his habital charging at opposition defenders who were often left bamboozled by his dizzying dribbling ability, and he's in line to be rewarded for those superb displays with a demonstrable show of faith from his employers.
On Tuesday, Paul Joyce reported for The Times that Ngumoha is expected to sign a new five-year contract at Liverpool once he turns 18 later this month (29 August).
Minors are only permitted to sign for a maximum three years, with the winger's current deal (agreed last autumn) running to 2028, but he's set to extend his commitment to the Reds to 2031 once he offically becomes an adult.

#contract

Andoni Iraola and his training staff were all present on the touchline which was wonderful to see knowing that the main event at Anfield was soon approaching. There were even a handful of senior players watching from the balcony and I'll note that only Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai stayed until the end.
I'm going to start by mentioning new signing Victor Munoz, this kid has pace to burn and is almost brutally direct. There are no Rio Ngumoha step overs but raw power and determination as well some nice switches of direction to throw the shadowing defenders off balance. Munoz also showed his ability with both feet in delivering good crosses and was Liverpool's best attacking outlet.
The other starting winger was Harvey Elliott, a term that should be loosely used in describing his wide play because despite Iraola's vocal instructions for Elliott to stay out wide he ignored him and continued to drift infield seeking the ball. This caused center forward Chiesa to have to go out wide on the right and leaving us with no focal point of attack. I really feel for Elliott after the way his past two seasons have gone but he needed to shake that all off yet it seems he is either vastly shot of confidence or he is trying too hard to be involved to the point he lacks discipline and broke the structure Iraola wanted.
The only other player I really feel is worth mentioning is Trey Nyoni who played the full 70 minutes and was vocally commanding at times during the second half as well positionally disciplined with good breaking up of play and forward passing. Very impressive for a young player who seems to have decided this is going to be his season to prove his worth and has given everything.
Beyond these observations Alexis Mac Allister played around sixty minutes and Wataru Endo played the full match as a center back with none of the senior center backs involved so we should see both new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo get some playing time in the real friendly later.

#iraola #senior

Liverpool are increasingly confident of securing Rio Ngumoha to a new long-term contract, with TeamTalk reporting that talks have already taken place and that Anfield figures expect an agreement in the months ahead.
The 17-year-old, who turns 18 at the end of August, is approaching a significant moment in his development. Once eligible to sign fresh long-term terms, he is set to be rewarded for what has been a rapid rise inside the club. Liverpool previously handed him the maximum three-year contract permitted when he arrived, and the next step now appears to be a far more substantial commitment.
Those discussions are understood to centre on a significantly improved package. The proposed deal is expected to include a major salary increase, as well as performance-related uplifts tied to appearances and international recognition. The belief inside Liverpool is particularly striking. According to the report, "The Reds firmly believe Ngumoha can become a fully fledged England international this season" and that confidence is shaping the contract structure being prepared.
Photo: IMAGO
There is a clear sense that Liverpool view the winger as elite-tier talent. Internally, "Liverpool's view is that Ngumoha is already one of the best young players in Europe and they want his new terms to reflect that status." That is a strong statement of intent from a club looking to build its next cycle under Andoni Iraola.

#contract #term

Liverpool and Leeds square off in Chicago on Sunday in a really fun preseason friendly.
Andoni Iraola's Liverpool have plenty of players still on their World Cup breaks but his high intensity style of play is already clear from their preseason displays so far. Plenty of experienced players have left Liverpool this summer and there is a really fresh feel about their squad with Iraola replacing Arne Slot and ushering in a totally new style of play.
Daniel Farke did a fine job last season to keep newly-promoted Leeds comfortably in the Premier League. Their squad is evolving nicely and many will tip them for a top 10 finish this season.
Kick off time: 4pm ET, Sunday August 2
Venue: Soldier Field — Chicago, Illinois
TV Channel/Streaming: All Red TV, LUFC
The likes of Domink Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez have played big roles in preseason, while Joe Gomez going down with an injury has shown how short of center backs Liverpool are ahead of the new season. Iraola's side beat Sunderland 4-2 and Wrexham 1-0 in the last week and teenager Rio Ngumoha has been excellent. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are all expected to be in action for the first time this summer after their World Cup exploits.

#Liverpool #leeds #Chicago #players

The possibility of Bradley Barcola becoming a Liverpool player is a genuine one, with the Reds set to make a bid for the PSG winger.
Liverpool are long-standing admirers of the France international and engaged in discussions last summer about his availability but eventually decided they didn't want to block the pathway of Rio Ngumoha.
With Mohamed Salah gone, the situation has changed. At half-time against Wrexham in New York, Ngumoha came on and played down the right - another indication that he will be used on both flanks this season. The 17-year-old was fortunate with the deflection for his goal but his directness makes life tough for defenders.
"All the coaching staff are just telling me to play my normal game really, whether that's going inside or outside. I've been working on it in training anyway, playing on the right and the left - just being unpredictable really," said Ngumoha.
He is a special talent while Victor Munoz, who Liverpool signed from Osasuna for £34m, is another one with plenty of potential. However, without Salah, Liverpool need high quality from the outset and Barcola could immediately provide that.

#right #bradley

Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were seemingly involved in an on-pitch argument on Thursday, potentially relating to Liverpool's captain's armband.
During Liverpool's 1-0 win over Wrexham in a pre-season friendly, which played out at Yankee Stadium in New York, Szoboszlai was replaced after providing the **** ist for Rio Ngumoha's goal.
Szoboszlai removed the captain's armband as he exited the pitch, handing it to Kostas Tsimikas, who had come on at half time, and the pair were involved in a heated conversation with Jones after the final whistle.
Dominik Szoboszlai (second-right) and Curtis Jones (right) pictured in April (Getty)
While it is unclear what exactly caused the confrontation, many fans have speculated that Jones was frustrated at Szoboszlai's decision to make Tsimikas captain, based on the young Scouser's gestures.

#involved #pitch #right

Liverpool's latest transfer thinking appears to have turned towards Bradley Barcola, with the Paris Saint-Germain winger emerging as a major target as planning continues for life after Mohamed Salah. The idea is easy to understand on talent alone. Barcola is young, quick, refined in possession and already seasoned at elite level. Yet once the excitement settles, the shape of the move becomes more complicated.
Liverpool are preparing an opening bid for the France international, who is valued by PSG at around £145 million. With performance-related clauses reportedly capable of taking the package to €150 million, this is the sort of deal that alters the landscape of a window. It would not be a speculative addition or a market opportunity seized on a whim. It would be a declaration, one that places Barcola at the centre of Liverpool's attacking future.
That is precisely why the positional debate matters so much. Salah's departure at the end of last season left a structural absence as much as an emotional one. Replacing his goals is one challenge, replacing his function another. Liverpool lost a right-sided forward who shaped the geometry of every game. The question now is whether Barcola answers that need, or whether he solves a different problem entirely.
There is no dispute over the player's ability. Jamie Carragher made that clear when discussing the move, saying: "He's a great player, there's no doubt about that – I'd love to get Barcola at Liverpool,". But his wider concern goes to the architecture of the squad. Liverpool, in his view, are better stocked on the left than they are on the right, which makes a huge investment in Barcola feel curious unless it is part of a broader redesign.
That concern has substance. Cody Gakpo offers a reliable option from the left, Rio Ngumoha remains one of the club's more intriguing younger attackers and Víctor Munoz has also been added. In isolation, signing another left-sided player of elite pedigree sounds attractive. In practical terms, though, elite squads still require a certain balance. Too much accumulation on one flank can create a shortage elsewhere, particularly when the outgoing player was as singular as Salah.

#barcola #Liverpool #player

Andoni Iraola says he hopes to have four Liverpool players back involved for the first time this pre-season when his side take on Leeds on Sunday.
The Reds beat Wrexham 1-0 in their latest pre-season friendly in New York, thanks to a Rio Ngumoha goal.
Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Jeremy Jacquet were among those not involved again, but Iraola says he is hoping to have them all play a part later this week.
Y"es, my idea is for Ryan [Gravenberch], for Florian [Wirtz], for Alex [Isak], for even Jeremy Jacquet to have their first minutes against Leeds," he said.
"We'll see how many minutes they can play but we have to start slowly, slowly integrating more of the senior players that have had less training sessions. I think they should be ready on the weekend to have their first minutes."

#iraola

Rio Ngumoha thrived off the right and scored the only goal in Liverpool's pre-season win over Wrexham in New York, leaving Andoni Iraola with a potential transfer conundrum.
The 17-year-old sensation saw his deflected effort loop in off Wrexham defender Lewis Brunt in the 75th minute, an action which proved the difference at the famous Yankee Stadium.
A night which saw the Reds launch their new away kit, Ngumoha was brought on as a second-half substitute by Iraola and was deployed at right wing, a position that is currently central to Liverpool's transfer plans after the departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of last season.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a big-money move for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, with widespread reports claiming the club are readying an opening bid.
After Ngumoha's impressive cameo, however, it remains to be seen how willing Liverpool will be to break the bank for Barcola, particularly given their desire to avoid hindering the highly-rated youngster's development.

#Liverpool

Rio Ngumoha has revealed that the demands new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has asked from him in pre-season.
Ngumoha scored the decisive goal as Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 overnight, with the winger's strike taking a looping deflection to deceive Callum Burton.
The 17-year-old had a breakout campaign last season, which concluded with an England debut after being invited to join the Three Lions' pre-World Cup training campaign.
At club level, Ngumoha is now out to impress new head coach Iraola, and prove he can be a central part of the Spaniard's plans for the upcoming campaign.
Asked about Iraola's demands so far, Ngumoha outlined an emphasis on off-the-ball work, and how he is working on his unpredictability.

#campaign #iraola #head

Liverpool have reportedly made a proposal for one Manchester City player. They hope to steal him this summer.
Liverpool are deep into their transfer business this summer, even if it doesn't quite feel like it. But the Reds have been at work for months trying to lock down their targets.
Of course, their top target was Yan Diomande and he'll be joining Paris Saint-Germain (or at least, he would like to) and that's put a real dampener on things. Liverpool have to pivot for someone new, even if they know that new target isn't exactly what they wanted.
For now, though, it seems the most-likely arrival will actually be for the future. Liverpool have their eyes on some of England's elite youth talent, hoping to recreate the magic of Rio Ngumoha.
One such player is Xavier Parker at Manchester City. The teenager is wanted by every major English club and he's thought to be one of the absolute best players in his age bracket.

Liverpool have been left with the gargantuan task of trying to replace Mo Salah after the legendary winger's exit from Anfield this summer, although one respected journalist has hinted that the Reds might already have a potential in-house solution.
2026 could mark a symbolic passing of the torch in L4, with the Egyptian moving on just as Rio Ngumoha begins to establish himself at an elite level off the back of a terrific breakthrough season in which he caught the eye with a series of dazzling performances.
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At present, new head coach Andoni Iraola only has one natural right-sided senior winger in Federico Chiesa, who was rarely trusted by Arne Slot and has been the subject of speculation over a potential summer exit from Merseyside.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo, Paul Gorst discussed the possibility of the 17-year-old – who's excelled on the left wing – possibly being switched to the opposite flank to fill the void left by Salah's departure.

Liverpool fans may recall the impression that Rio Ngumoha made in pre-season last summer, and another teenage gem from the club’s academy could be poised to make a similar impact in the coming weeks.
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The now-England international caught the eye with his displays in the Far East just under a year ago, scoring a show-stopping goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in ***** an, and he went on to become a rare positive in a dismal 2025/26 season for the Reds.
The 17-year-old is set to be part of Andoni Iraola’s squad for their upcoming tour to the United States, and it seems that he won’t be the youngest player boarding the transatlantic flight.
In an article for the Liverpool Echo, Paul Gorst reviewed which players are likely be involved on the tour, and who’s set to be absent.

Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha says he was "buzzing" to make his international debut and "show everyone what I could do" in England's first World Cup warm-up fixture against New Zealand last week.
The 17-year-old, who was one of four youngsters selected by Thomas Tuchel to join his pre-World Cup training camp in Florida, became the fifth-youngest player to represent the Three Lions in history, coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 friendly win.
"I'll say it was a crazy feeling," Ngumoha, who received the man of the match award, told England's media channels. "I was happy. I was buzzing.
"I knew from when we had the meeting before the match that there was going to be a first-half team and a second-half team, so I was preparing [to play].
"It's good that I didn't have too much time to think about it. I wasn't too nervous to be fair, I just wanted to play and show everyone what I could do. I just had fun.

Bayern Munich making a move for Rio Ngumoha was not on anyone's bingo cards this summer.
The 17-year-old has quickly become a sensation at Liverpool with the attacker being one of the only bright sparks in their team.
It took Arne Slot a lot of time to decide that he was good enough to regularly feature but, once he did, it was clear that he had bags of potential that he could fulfil.
And, now that Andoni Iraola is the manager and has already said that he's looking forward to using the Reds' youngsters this term, it could give Ngumoha a new lease of life and potentially a regular starting role.
However, news broke on Friday evening that Bayern Munich were interested in signing the Englishman which came as a shock to everyone.