Several Liverpool players have ongoing contract situations at the club, and journalist Graeme Bailey has now made a major claim regarding one of them.

Rio Ngumoha is among the most exciting young footballers in Europe currently, with Andoni Iraola recently urging him to remain grounded amid endless praise:

“The outside noise, when it’s good, when it’s bad I think it affects — obviously — but we have to not be affected by those things. You continue to do your job, as good as you can, try to improve the things you can improve and don’t be too affected from the things you can hear.

“When you do well they are going to praise you, when you do bad they are going to be critics but don’t let those things affect too much the performance, which in the end is the most important thing.”

Ngumoha is out of contract at Liverpool in 2028, however, and with almost any team in the world likely to want him, it is imperative that a contract extension is agreed.

According to TEAMtalk‘s Bailey, new Reds sporting director Julian Ward has made the 18-year-old’s new deal a “priority”, with the club “targeting the next international break to conclude an agreement and secure the teenager’s long-term future at Anfield.”

The report adds that Liverpool have “already agreed the broad outline of a new deal with Ngumoha’s representatives”, which is claimed to have been “in place since September.”

New deal for Rio Ngumoha is essential for Liverpool

Tying Ngumoha down to an extension is vital business for Liverpool, so this update is hugely encouraging as Ward looks to work his magic in his second stint as sporting director.

The winger has the world at his feet and can mature into one of the best players on the planet, as long as he remains focused on his game and avoids serious injury.

Liverpool need to keep hold of Ngumoha for many years, and the performances he is producing at 18 merit a huge deal coming his way, and it looks as though it is a matter of when and not if.

Whether he starts in the Premier League at home to Arsenal on Sunday remains to be seen, but even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him have a big say in the outcome of the game.