In the last few weeks, Daily Mail Sport has asked several questions about Rio Ngumoha to people ‘in the know’ around Liverpool and the answer has always been ‘no’. Not in a rude way.
We asked when strong rumours were circulating in France that Paris Saint-Germain gem Bradley Barcola was an option that Liverpool apparently wanted to pursue. And we asked when Real Madrid’s Samba-style Brazilian, Rodrygo, was repeatedly mooted as a target. But we were told: no.
Paraphrasing, the verdict inside the building was this: ‘We appreciate those players, of course – but we have Rio. We do not want to block Rio’s pathway. The manager trusts Rio to make an impact.’
When we asked people close to the 16-year-old himself for some insight into what makes him so special, the answer was similar. In a very polite way, we were told to go away: this kid has not achieved anything yet.
He has now. Even if he never scores another goal for Liverpool again, he will always have this moment to cherish – becoming the club’s youngest-ever goal-scorer in the Premier League and, not just that, winning a ginormous three points in the embryonic stages of this title race.
The wider public was probably surprised when he came on in the 96th minute. Why on earth would you throw on a 16-year-old for his league debut in the cauldron of St James’ Park when a draw would have probably been a respectable result before kick-off?
Teen sensation Rio Ngumoha announced himself to the wider football world on Monday night
The 16-year-old become the Reds’ youngest-ever scorer when he netted the winner against Newcastle
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More viewers would have asked that as well as questioning just who is this fresh-faced kid – and he is a kid – about to enter the fray. Everyone knows his name now. And this is just the beginning.
But no one at Liverpool, or those who have followed the club regularly in the last 12 months especially on the pre-season tour, is surprised. Not a jot.
For those of us lucky enough to witness Ngumoha’s progress in the last year, this was always destined to happen. OK, maybe not in such dramatic or memorable fashion, but the teenager always had designs on making a serious impact in the first team this season after a year of bedding in with the Under 21s following his much-discussed move from Chelsea.
When training with the first team last year, coaches and players were blown away. Rumours went round that the media staff had to delete footage of Ngumoha ‘mugging off’ experienced defenders. True or not, we will never know, but it would be no surprise at all.
He has the innocence of youth with the ball at his feet, always wanting to run at his man and make something happen. Watching him for the academy last year, the worry was that he was just a dribbler and lacked end product, but eventually he started to demonstrate that side, too.
His goal on the pre-season tour of Asia, against Yokohama F Marinos, was brilliantly taken. Again, the thumping finish may have surprised casual fans – but not those who have watched him for the academy, this was a trademark run.
Coaching staff are understood to have been taken aback by his finishing style and eye for a pass at his age. Most players so young are raw gems, unpolished diamonds who need these areas drilling into them. Not Ngumoha, whether naturally gifted or through hard work, he ticks every box.
Given that, the following sentence might seem somewhat of an understatement. ‘If Rio was in Brazil, he would have made his first-team debut already and funnily enough, Chelsea might have bought him for £50million,’ the esteemed Secret Scout told us this time last year.
Rumours criculated earlier this month that the Reds were interested in signing PSG winger Bradley Barcola
Links to Real Madrid winger Rodrygo have persisted for much of the summer transfer window
We were writing a piece at the time on the next big thing of Liverpool’s academy and Secret Scout, who has more than 20 years coaching experience and first watched Ngumoha at age 12, added: ‘He was just a fantastic dribbler and unbelievable one-versus-one.
‘It was so difficult to get the ball off him even if two players were trying. He’s got a tight-knit family and in terms of attitude and mentality, there is zero opportunity for him to go astray or think he is bigger than what he is.
‘They are buying very much with the idea he can become part of the first team and fulfil a certain position. Sometimes when players transition into adult football, they cannot replicate what they did in youth teams – but his decision-making has got better.
‘He knows he cannot just run through the whole team any more, knows when to pass and when to dribble. He’s one of the best I’ve seen in my coaching journey.’
Liverpool paid a six-figure sum for Ngumoha in compensation to Chelsea who were so furious that they took the unusual step of banning Reds scouts from youth matches at their Cobham HQ.
But hand on heart, no Stamford Bridge employee can say that Ngumoha would have had the chances he has had in the north west so far. The teenager, alongside his family, moved up to Merseyside in search of a better pathway.
Those around him, like brother James and close ally Fergal Hale-Brown – an academy expert, are private people but all driven with one common goal. Scoring a match-winner in a Premier League game is just one step on the path to achieving that – but Ngumoha is already climbing the ladder.
So that underlines why Liverpool have the answer they do when it comes to asking about potential Luis Diaz replacements or alternative attacking reinforcements.
The Premier League champions have not signed a direct replacement from Luis Diaz, who was crucial in their title win last term
Arne Slot was thankful for the contribution of the impressive youngster as his side snatched the victory
Why would they spend £100million, perhaps even more, on a Rodrygo or Barcola, when they have this gem sitting on the bench ready to impact games like this?
Going into the match and even during it, all the talk from a Liverpool perspective was around Alexander Isak and how their attacking depth looks light. Ngumoha is a prodigy but he is not ready yet, was the common verdict from fans.
That should now be altered. He is not just the biggest prospect in the academy and one for the future, his time to shine is now.