Liverpool are plotting a tactical positional shift for 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, moving the teenager to the right flank as the club accelerates its pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s left-sided forward Bradley Barcola in a projected £140m deal, according to Yahoo Sports reporting from the team’s pre-season tour.
Tactical Redirection on the American Tour
The second-half introduction of Rio Ngumoha as a right winger during the fixture against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium signaled a notable departure from his customary role. Under Arne Slot, and continuing through early pre-season minutes under Andoni Iraola—including an appearance against Sunderland in Nashville—the 17-year-old has operated almost exclusively on the left flank, a position he made his own during the backend of last season.
That tactical tweak coincides with reports from Yahoo Sports that Liverpool are accelerating negotiations for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola. With the Frenchman valued at £140m and known primarily as a left-sided forward, the club’s coaching staff is seemingly laying the groundwork for an offensive reshuffle at Anfield.
Engineering the £125m Alexander Isak Connection
The experiment is also designed to maximize the tactical output of club-record signing Alexander Isak, who commanded a £125m fee. Isak missed the Wrexham encounter while building up fitness in Chicago alongside Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool’s recruitment team recognizes that operating without Mohamed Salah requires a fundamental rethink of chance creation.
| Player | Primary Position | Projected Role / Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Ngumoha | Left Winger / Right Winger | Positional transition to right flank; contract renewal pending at 18 |
| Bradley Barcola | Left-Sided Forward | Targeted marquee signing (£140m valuation) |
| Alexander Isak | Central Striker (No. 9) | Club-record signing (£125m) focal point for wide deliveries |
Navigating the Touchline Learning Curve
Shifting to the right flank presents unique tactical hurdles for a young player accustomed to drifting infield from the left to open up shooting lanes and central passing angles. Against Wrexham, opponents funneled extra defensive attention toward the unfamiliar touchline, restricting Ngumoha’s ability to isolate defenders in 1-v-1 isolation scenarios.
Despite the initial friction, pre-season friendlies offer the ideal laboratory to iron out tactical flaws. Ngumoha even managed to find the scoresheet with a deflected effort that looped over Wrexham goalkeeper Callum Burton. With four additional friendlies scheduled and an improved, long-term contract expected when he turns 18 late next month, the coaching staff has ample runway to embed the tactical shift.
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