Bayern Munich have identified Rio Ngumoha as their primary left-wing target this summer, according to The Athletic. Liverpool's answer, at least for now, is a firm no.
The 17-year-old made 29 appearances for the Reds last season under Arne Slot — often as a late substitute — contributing one goal and one assist beyond his early-season breakthrough at Newcastle. Modest numbers on paper, but the kind of raw material that has clubs across Europe paying close attention.
Why Bayern are coming for him
The logic from Bayern's side is sound. Luis Díaz turns 29 soon, Serge Gnabry is already past his peak in his early 30s, and left-sided depth is the one genuine gap in an otherwise elite attacking unit. Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala give Vincent Kompany the kind of forward line most clubs would trade their academy for — but squads built around aging wings have a habit of aging badly, fast.
Anthony Gordon was on their radar before Barcelona moved in. Ngumoha is now the name at the top of the list. There's a pattern forming: Bayern want young, direct, left-sided attackers, and they have the structure to develop them. Musiala is the proof of concept.
If Ngumoha ever did end up at the Allianz Arena, you'd back him to develop. That's not nothing. Michael Olise is now reportedly attracting Real Madrid's attention after his time there — the development pathway is real.
Liverpool aren't selling, and that's the right call
Mohamed Salah is leaving. New manager Andoni Iraola is coming in with a press-heavy, pace-on-the-wings system. Florian Wirtz is arriving to anchor the attack. In that context, selling Ngumoha isn't just commercially questionable — it's tactically self-defeating.
Slot publicly called the teenager someone with "incredible potential." Liverpool poached him from Chelsea in 2024 specifically because they saw something others had overlooked. They're not handing that investment to a rival club on the eve of a squad rebuild.
Liverpool's title odds took a battering last season as their Premier League defence collapsed. Stripping out one of the few players generating genuine excitement from their own fanbase would make that picture even darker heading into 2025-26.
Bayern will keep pushing. That's what Bayern do. But Ngumoha's future, for now, is at Anfield — and Liverpool have every reason to keep it that way.
