It is expected to be a big season at Liverpool for Rio Ngumoha, who may have his eye on a starting spot on the Reds’ left wing.
Though they are likely to enter the market and sign another new wide forward, Liverpool have so far only added Victor Munoz to the squad, with the Spaniard unlikely to overtake Ngumoha in the pecking order.
During a brilliant breakout season, Ngumoha showed that he has the potential to be a superstar at Anfield, announcing himself as one of the best young players in world football.
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His excellence saw him nominated for the prestigious Golden Boy award, handed to the best U20 player in Europe every season. However, with the latest top 100 rankings revealed, the Liverpool talent has been placed way down the list at No. 34.
Ngumoha ranked as the 34th best youngster
Though Arne Slot often faced calls to play Ngumoha more often last season, the Dutchman was constantly at pains to point out that no 17-year-old had played as much football as the former Chelsea prospect in Europe.
Nevertheless, there are plenty who are one or two years older than Ngumoha who are regulars for their teams, and that is part of the reason why the teenager sits at what feels like a low 34th place in current Golden Boy Top 100.
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Sandwiched between Tottenham’s wantaway midfielder Lucas Bergvall in 33rd and Hoffenheim left-back Mats Rots in 35th, Ngumoha may feel he should be higher up the list.
The likes of Lewis Miley at Newcastle (31) and Tottenham’s Archie Gray (30) may have played more football, but neither have had the impact of Ngumoha, and he can be disappointed to sit below them here.
Crystal Palace’s Jaydee Canvot (28) is another who hasn’t done anything much of note Vitor Reis of Man City (14) is yet to make any kind of mark at the Etihad.
There are some reported Liverpool transfer targets sitting in relatively high places, with Yan Diomande up in 4th, Ayyoub Bouaddi in 5th and Rayan sitting 10th.
Elsewhere, one potential Diomande alternative, Koln’s Said El Mala, is currently seen as the 14th best U20 player in Europe. Midfielder Kees Smit, another reportedly on Liverpool’s radar, is 19th.
Predictably, 2024 winner Lamine Yamal is in No.1, with PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery and Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi making up the top three.
While Ngumoha will have to go some way to topple that trio before the winner of the award is announced in November, he will hope to at least be able to catapult himself up the rankings between now and then.
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