Liverpool are reportedly “willing to listen” to loan offers for Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha in January, but the circumstances must benefit the players’ development.
As Liverpool’s two highest-rated youngsters currently moving from the academy into the first team, Nyoni and Ngumoha have both found themselves struggling for game time.
According to the Athletic, “a number of clubs across the country and in Europe are interested” in signing Nyoni on loan.
However, Liverpool haven’t yet decided his short-term future and a move is by no means a certainty – the same goes for Ngumoha.
Reporters Gregg Evans and Andy Jones added that “if a suitable opportunity opens up, Liverpool are willing to listen, but that also depends on the fitness and form of the senior midfielders” in the case of Nyoni.
Any potential loan move would also be subject to the destination being appropriate for the player.
Liverpool analyse loan clubs in depth and will want assurances that a move wouldn’t stunt their youngster’s progression.
Balancing game time and training
A challenge that faces youngsters coming through at Liverpool is the problem of still managing to develop without sufficient minutes on the pitch.
While they are training at the very top level, it can be tough without regular minutes to perform well when opportunities do arrive.
Ngumoha has played a total of 207 minutes for the Reds this season, 46 coming outside the Carabao Cup, while Nyoni has played just the cup outings.
The midfielder has been caught in limbo between the academy and the first team, featuring in five youth games this season but not on a weekly basis.
“He’s in a difficult space right now and it’s about keeping him confident, managing his expectations of his involvement with the first team, but it is a difficult space for those young players,” under-21s coach Rob Page told This Is Anfield.
“He’s still a young lad, don’t forget.
“He’s had involvement with the first team from an early age and [the challenge] is managing his minutes, it’s giving him game time but it’s maintaining the standards that he sets as well.”
Given how highly Ngumoha and Nyoni are rated, regular first team football in the Premier League would be beneficial, but only if the club in question play a similar way. At the moment, there aren’t many sides in that category.
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