Liverpool Move to Tie Down Ngumoha After Bayern Munich Interest Emerges

Liverpool have signalled their intent to secure Rio Ngumoha's future with a fresh contract offer, following unwelcome attention from Bayern Munich during the summer window.

The youngster impressed during Liverpool's disappointing 2025/26 campaign, emerging as one of the club's standout performers despite limited opportunities under departing boss Arne Slot. With new manager Andoni Iraola now in the dugout, Ngumoha's prospects appear brighter—though Bayern Munich have been circling.

The Bundesliga giants are hunting wingers to challenge Luis Diaz and turned their attention to Ngumoha after failing to land Anthony Gordon from Barcelona. A report earlier this month claimed the teenager had reached a verbal understanding with the German side before negotiations stalled, yet Bayern have continued knocking on the door in recent weeks.

Liverpool have dismissed any notion of Ngumoha departing, and now they're moving to make his future permanent. According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, the Reds are "urgently" keen to agree terms with the winger once he reaches his 18th birthday at the end of August.

"Liverpool are obviously unhappy with this suggestion that Bayern Munich have agreed personal terms with the player to try and get a deal done," O'Rourke said. "Obviously Liverpool are not planning to lose Rio Ngumoha any time soon. He's seen as a huge star for the future for the Anfield club."

Though Ngumoha remains contracted until 2028, Liverpool's hierarchy are determined to sit down with his representatives and hammer out improved terms at the earliest opportunity. The club's frustration at Bayern's interference is evident, with officials keen to resolve matters swiftly.

The talented winger will likely be viewed as the long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, who departed the club this summer. While some have suggested Salah might have remained had he known of Slot's exit beforehand, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has questioned that narrative.

Murphy believes Salah's departure was primarily driven by his form deterioration rather than managerial relationships. "The biggest impact on him leaving is his form," Murphy explained to GOAL. "He probably feels where you can't quite hit the levels you once did, so maybe it's time to bow out before it gets worse."

Murphy acknowledged the Slot factor existed but argued any manager would have faced the same predicament. "I'm not sure what manager really wouldn't have been in the same situation as Slot and having to drop him. If anything, I'd suggest that Slot left him in too long when he was struggling," he added. "The problems would have started anyway, irrelevant of whether you get on with a manager."