Rio Ngumoha was attracting interest from Bayern Munich in the summer and nearly two months on from his 18th birthday, a new contract that had been anticipated has yet to be signed

Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has encouraged Rio Ngumoha to reject approaches from Bayern Munich and instead establish himself as a star at Anfield.

Ngumoha attracted preliminary interest from Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern during the summer transfer window, and nearly two months after his 18th birthday on 29th August, the anticipated new contract remains unsigned. A deal signed when he turned 17 currently binds him to the club until 2028.

Speaking following Saturday's 2-1 victory at Brentford, Ngumoha confirmed the matter was being handled by his representatives, and while former Reds defender Johnson acknowledges Bayern's stature, he challenged the teenager to prove himself on Merseyside for the 20-time champions.

"Bayern Munich is obviously a fantastic club and side, and big credit to Rio Ngumoha that he has interest from such a big club, but I don't think he has to be looking anywhere near that," Johnson told wettbasis. com.

"He is at a fantastic club where he is playing and doing really well. There is no need to change that and Liverpool don't want to let him go.

"Obviously when you are playing like he does, all the top clubs will want him, but I don't think that's even an option. Liverpool wouldn't want to let him go because he is one of their best players.

"If he wasn't playing, you would totally understand why he would want to go, especially because we are seeing more and more English players going abroad, which is working really well for them.

"So, for players who aren't getting the minutes, I can understand it, but Rio is banging on the door almost being at a point where he should be starting every week, so I don't think he should move anywhere.

"As long as he keeps learning and improving, then he can go to the very top. He doesn't look like the kid who just wants to be a flash in the pan."

Ngumoha proved instrumental in helping shift the momentum in Liverpool's favour at the Gtech Stadium on Saturday following his introduction in place of Jeremie Frimpong early in the second period, with the hosts leading 1-0 and reduced to 10 men after Yehor Yarmoliuk's dismissal.

Johnson believes Ngumoha won't simply vanish after such a meteoric early ascent at Liverpool.

The former England right-back, who turned out 200 times for the Reds from 2009 to 2015, continued: "We have seen loads of players who have burst onto the scene and then disappeared in a year and you would never hear from them again.

"He doesn't look like he is like that, he is a good professional and he works really hard. He isn't arrogant at all."