Liverpool signed one of the most skilful players on the planet
It's been apparent over the last year that Arne Slot is keen on adding more skill to his attack. The Reds were brilliant last season, but they lacked a player who can take players on one vs one and create space for others.
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Someone who can also be unpredictable. This is why they had considered making a move for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the January transfer window.
Ultimately, Paris Saint Germain were the ones who were able to sway the exquisite Georgian attacker, and they reaped the rewards, becoming Champions League winners and beating Liverpool along the way.
For the Reds though, missing out on Kvaratskhelia may have been a silver lining. Because little did they realise, but they already had a player of his ilk, and had already signed him last summer.
Richard Hughes got a lot of criticism last year when he ultimately didn't really go big on any transfer. Obviously, those critics are very silent now as Liverpool have embarked on a spending spree.
But Hughes did make one transfer that could go onto retrospectively be known as one of his best deals ever. We are talking about the acquisition of Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea.
Last year the 16-year-old's arrival caused shockwaves but little did we know just how good of a player Ngumoha was actually really is. There was a lot of hype, and a lot to live up to and over the course of the last year, he's done that.
At academy level, Ngumoha has been averaging around 13 dribblers per 90 minutes, and completing over 50% of his attempts. Those are on par with the most skilful players on the planet.
In pre-season, he's showing he can translate that to senior level as well. Against AC Milan he was one of the best players on the pitch, creating the most chances (two) and winning the most duels (4) in the first-half.
Most importantly, he completed the most dribblers (3) on the same pitch that included Rafael Leao, which is impressive to say the least.
Overall as we have no access to data from the Stoke City game, in which Ngumoha scored, he's played around 90 minutes for Liverpool in pre-season so far.
In those 90 minutes, Ngumoha has attempted nine dribbles and completed six of them.
It's a small sample size but these are the numbers he has produced at academy and youth international level, too. Ngumoha is simply one of the most skilful players on the planet already.
He thrives in tight spaces and he has AC Milan's senior players not really knowing how to deal with him. There's no denying he will play more minutes for the first team next season. There's also no denying, Hughes pulled off a major coup when he signed him last summer.
With Ngumoha in the side, Slot will finally have that unpredictable element. Add Florian Wirtz to the mix and Liverpool will undoubtedly be even better next season.
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