Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is reportedly locked in a tense disagreement with sporting director Richard Hughes over the future of highly rated teenager Rio Ngumoha.
Since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2024, Ngumoha has been widely viewed as a potential star in the making. The 17-year-old quickly impressed at youth level, earning a call-up to first-team training in the autumn before making his senior debut on 11 January 2025 in the Reds’ 4–0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.
However, Ngumoha has made only nine further appearances since then, sparking doubts about his long-term prospects at Anfield despite his age. Reports now suggest that his situation has become a major flashpoint between Slot and Hughes.
Liverpool sold winger Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5 million during the summer window, and while the club were linked with several wide attackers, they ultimately focused on strengthening centrally by signing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
According to Anfield Watch, this approach went against Slot’s wishes, with the manager pushing for the signing of either Bradley Barcola or Malick Fofana to reinforce the wings.
Hughes and the recruitment team, however, preferred Slot to place greater trust in Ngumoha following his standout pre-season, where he registered five goal contributions in five matches. Slot was reportedly unconvinced that the youngster was ready for regular first-team football and urged the club to sign a new winger before the transfer deadline.
Despite the standoff, Hughes stood firm and insisted that Slot integrate Ngumoha into the squad and provide him with consistent opportunities. With Slot reluctant to do so, the report claims Ngumoha’s future remains a point of friction between the manager and the club’s hierarchy.
As uncertainty continues to surround Slot’s position at Liverpool, it remains unclear how Hughes and CEO of football Michael Edwards will respond to Ngumoha’s limited involvement during the second half of the season.
