Liverpool staff think they have got a brilliant prospect in their U18 side next season

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Liverpool’s academy have been doing brilliant work over recent years to improve the level of youngsters at the club.

The Reds have brought through some gems throughout their history and that long tradition looks set to continue deep into the future.

Last season, the likes of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley showed just how much quality Liverpool have within their youth ranks.

With the first-team squad and the academy now integrated into the same building at the AXA Training Centre, the step from hot prospect to first-team starter has never been smaller.

As Liverpool also get their recruitment drive spot on in adding players to the youth team from other clubs, there looks to be a talent tap currently open in Kirkby.

Liverpool excited over Rio Ngumoha

Quansah and Bradley weren’t the only two players to make a name for themselves during Jurgen Klopp’s last season at Anfield.

Jayden Danns was another who rose through the ranks to announce himself to the wider football world.

Danns had started the season with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s U18 side before establishing himself in the U21s, and then the first-team.

That journey was one that Ben Doak also flew through during 2022/23, showing that there is a clear pathway straight from the youngest age group through to playing for Arne Slot.

The latest player Liverpool seemingly hope can go from U18 to senior side in a short timespan is imminent new signing Rio Ngumoha.

READ MORE: Liverpool on the verge of losing son of former Everton captain from their academy

Liverpool are confident of signing Ngumoha from Chelsea in what is widely seen as a huge coup for the academy.

And speaking on The Redmen TV, journalist Paul Gorst says that people at Liverpool have ‘high hopes’ that the 15-year-old can be a star of the future. For now though, he’s heading into the U18s.

“Speaking to people at Liverpool this week they think that he’s absolutely one of the best around for his age and they’ve got high hopes for him,” Gorst says of Ngumoha.

“They’re looking to possibly move him into the under 18’s this season, see how he gets on. But like with all the players they will be taking a measured approach, they won’t be launching him into the seniors anytime soon.”

Liverpool plotting pathway for Rio Ngumoha

If Ngumoha is as good as people seem to think he is, then Liverpool could be signing a future first-teamer this summer.

Part of the reason the teenager wanted to join the Reds is reportedly because of the examples of other players coming through to star in the senior side.

This a real feather in Liverpool’s cap, but it also signals that they have to be plotting the same path for Ngumoha.

Obviously, nothing is a given in football and whether Ngumoha develops is also largely down to he himself.

But if the experiences Danns, Doak and many more have gone through have taught us anything, it’s that these youngsters will get chances if they can prove themselves. Exciting times ahead.