Liverpool may have just secured Rio Ngumoha’s long-term wing partner for years to come
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Liverpool fans have an exciting few months ahead as the Reds search for new wingers to add to Andoni Iraola’s squad.As things stand, Iraola will have only Rio Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa to call upon heading into the new campaign.Nevertheless, Liverpool also secured themselves something of a coup on Wednesday after confirming that 15-year-old wide forward Josh Abe has signed a new contract with the Reds. Rate Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool appointment!
Credit: AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images Abe had been expected to leave after courting interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, but will now stay with Liverpool and progress into the U21s.There has been even been early talk that Abe will be part of Iraola’s pre-season squad, and though expectations should be managed, there is a real feeling that the teenager could be right wing version of the effervescent Ngumoha.Josh Abe and Ngumoha can dominate Liverpool’s wingsAlthough he got plenty wrong during his second season at Liverpool, Arne Slot’s handling of Ngumoha and his prodigious talents was spot-on.The Dutch coach built him up throughout the campaign, so that by the end the 17-year-old was ready to start back-to-back Premier League matches.Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Andoni Iraola has already suggested Liverpool will play the opposite of Arne Slot-ball next seasonMore will be expected of Ngumoha next season, and it will be fascinating to see who Liverpool sign for the right wing as a result.They will want to make sure the former Chelsea starlet gets as many opportunities as possible, but also need to sign a starting winger as well.Obviously, being more than two years younger, Abe is a little further behind in his development, but the signs are there that he is on the same trajectory as Ngumoha.There are not too many top-level left-footed right wingers around at the moment, and if Liverpool get Abe’s development right, there is a realistic scenario where he and Ngumoha are their wing pairing in half a decade. Liverpool must not block Abe’s developmentAs with Ngumoha 12 months ago, Liverpool will be wary of putting obstacles in the way of Abe’s ascent to the first-team.Much will depend on how much he catches Iraola’s eye in pre-season, but there is a scenario where the youngster forms part of the Spanish coach’s attack in the same way Ngumoha did at the start of 2025/26 under Slot.
Be honest, are you upset it’s Iraola and not Xabi Alonso? 👀 Sounds like Liverpool were always leaning towards the Bournemouth boss… Had he not had such an explosive pre-season, the No. He may have even dropped back down to the youth sides for some time.However, Ngumoha made himself un-ignorable for Slot, and though he is younger, Abe could do the same for Iraola this summer.Either way, Liverpool have to be careful not to block the way for him to make his first-team breakthrough.