Rio Ngumoha was one of Liverpool’s best players during a difficult 2025/26 season despite not starting that many games.
Barring perhaps Dominik Szoboszlai, no other Reds player was as impactful as the teenage sensation once he finally started playing last season.
However, despite the likes of Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah struggling for form, Arne Slot did not afford Ngumoha a lot of Premier League starts, which some fans were not happy about.
But the player himself was actually fine with how the now ex-Liverpool manager used him in the previous campaign.
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Rio Ngumoha appreciated how Arne Slot handled him at Liverpool
David Lynch shared an insight on the situation via his own website, saying that suggestions Ngumoha could leave because the youngster was unhappy with his minutes in 2025/26 were false.
The former Chelsea man notched a total of 551 minutes in the top-flight last term but completed 90 minutes just once versus Aston Villa in May.
He added that: “In reality, the teenager was fully appreciative of the careful handling he received from Arne Slot last term.”
Lynch also cleared up Bayern Munich’s interest in Ngumoha, writing that while the Bundesliga giants did make contact with his representatives, the Englishman never agreed terms for a move.
Losing such an obvious talent would be a major blow for the Merseyside outfit during a period where they are having to rebuild their squad.
But as soon as links to Bayern emerged, it was reported that Liverpool would not sell Ngumoha.
Instead, he is now expected to be competing for a starting berth on the left wing next season with incoming signing Victor Munoz.
Said transfer may well open the door for Gakpo to leave, or he could be used as the back-up striker to Alexander Isak while Hugo Ekitike is on the sidelines.
Alternatively, given Munoz is quite a versatile option, he may be used as backup right-wing cover to whoever Liverpool end up signing to replace Mohamed Salah.
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