Report: Man United tried to convince 'exceptional' Liverpool academy talent to join them this summer
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Liverpool have been excellent at bringing through some top young talent to aid the first-team over recent seasons.
Often seen as being a little underutilised in the past, the Liverpool academy has seen a number of highly-rated youngsters emerge as genuine options.
The likes of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley are the obvious poster boys for this. However, beyond that star duo, Liverpool have many others who could soon explode.
Part of the process of making sure the Liverpool academy is producing the conveyor belt of talent that is really should has been bringing in the best young players in from outside the club.
The Reds have become increasingly adept at identifying and recruiting prospects who could one day develop and be part of the Liverpool squad.
The latest in this long line of talent is Rio Ngumoha, who appears to have the potential to be a real star of the senior side.
Man United pushed to sign Rio Ngumoha
There is so much excitement over Ngumoha at Liverpool. The 16-year-old’s arrival from Chelsea this summer is being seen as a real coup for the club.
Although caution must be exercised, there is a reason John Terry was gutted to see Ngumoha leave Chelsea. He could be a superstar in the making.
And according to The Athletic, the Blues did everything they possibly could to stop the forward from walking out of the exit door.
They claim that Chelsea ‘know they have lost a player who has so much potential to develop’ and subsequently made a ‘late push’ to try and keep Ngumoha at Stamford Bridge.
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And the West London side were reportedly not the only rivals Liverpool had for the teenager’s signature.
It’s claimed that Man United also attempted to sign Ngumoha in June. The Reds’ prospect is said to have ‘listened to plans’ that United had for him as he pondered his next move.
However, although the Red Devils reportedly pushed to get Ngumoha, they are also claimed to have felt that they were always behind Liverpool in the race and ultimately ‘conceded defeat.’
What is the plan for Rio Ngumoha?
Ngumoha has already begun life at Liverpool with three appearances so far for the U18s side.
The Reds seem unprepared to throw the former Chelsea kid in straight away, though. Ngumoha made just a cameo against AC Milan last week and all of his game time has been as a substitute.
This should hardly be a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. It has already been claimed that Liverpool will ease Ngumoha into life at the club, starting him off in the U18s.
From there, if he does well, the winger will progress just as Ben Doak did before him, into the U21s and then eventually, perhaps, into the first-team.
Ngumoha has been described as ‘exceptional’ by journalist Fabrizio Romano and the interest of sides such as United only goes to underline that. But, now that he’s a Liverpool player, Rio should be given the time to develop at his own pace.
