It's been an up-and-down season for Liverpool under Andoni Iraola, but one English youngster has shone to the point where he's now statistically better than Yamine Lamal

Liverpool sensation Rio Ngumoha has officially usurped Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal to be crowned the new "Dribble King" of the Champions League. But the rise has now sparked fresh transfer anxiety at Anfield as Bayern Munich prepare to reignite their pursuit of the teenager.

While European football fans would be forgiven for assuming that Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal or Bayern Munich's Michael Olise lead the continent's ball-carrying charts, it is actually the 18-year-old Reds winger who sits at the summit. Ngumoha has completed 22 dribbles in the 2026/27 Champions League campaign - six clear of second-placed Yamal on 16. AEK Athens attacker Aboubakary Koita and Shakhtar Donetsk talent Alisson Santana sit tied for third with 15 apiece, while Olise trails in fifth.

What makes the teenager's statistical dominance all the more remarkable is that he has accumulated his tally in just 285 minutes of European action.

Although Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has largely utilised the electric youngster as an impact substitute in the Premier League, Ngumoha has been handed regular starts on the continental stage and has seized his opportunity with both hands.

Even in Liverpool's frustrating 3-2 midweek defeat away at Fenerbahçe, Ngumoha was a constant thorn in the Turkish side's defence, completing seven take-ons before being substituted after 66 minutes.

That display followed a breathtaking Man of the Match performance against Villarreal, where he registered two assists and set a seasonal tournament record of nine successful dribbles in a single game during a thrilling 4-3 victory at Anfield. He also racked up seven successful take-ons against LASK earlier in the league phase.

His fearless pace, power, and one-on-one mastery have earned glowing praise from former Anfield stalwart Andy Robertson, who tipped the youngster for an 'amazing future' at the highest level.

However, Ngumoha's meteoric rise has not gone unnoticed on the continent. German giants Bayern Munich are plotting to renew their interest in the winger after failing with an ambitious approach during the previous summer window.

The Bundesliga club held talks with the player's representatives and even lined up a staggering €70 million (£59m) offer, before ultimately walking away over doubts that Liverpool would sanction a sale and pivoting to sign Ismael Saibari instead.

Having maintained regular contact with Ngumoha's camp throughout the autumn, Bayern are considering testing the waters again in the upcoming transfer windows. Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has moved swiftly to protect the club's prized asset, making a lucrative new long-term contract for Ngumoha a top priority at Anfield to ward off the circling Bavarian heavyweights.