Liverpool to smash historical wage structure and sign highly-rated teenager from Premier League rivals

Liverpool are set to smash their 'wage structure' to sign a highly-rated player from one of their Premier League rivals.

Arne Slot will be looking to recruit new players ahead of the 2024/25 season getting underway.

The new Liverpool boss has already put his stamp on the club by scrapping one of Jurgen Klopp's pre-season traditions.

And he'll be looking to make an impact during the summer transfer window, with one player moving on from Anfield following the Dutchman's appointment.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Slot's Liverpool are 'closing in on a deal' to sign Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea in a transfer that would 'break' the club's academy 'wage structure'.

On X, the transfer expert wrote: "Liverpool are closing in on deal to sign Rio Ngumoha (2008) as he’s leaving Chelsea Academy. #LFC are set to break historical wage structure for Academy to sign Rio, who’s highly rated by the club.

"Deal set to be completed soon."

Slot and Liverpool are hellbent on acquiring the budding winger and are prepared to break their wage structure to get the transfer over the line.

The club are said to be huge admirers of the 15-year-old, with a deal expected to be completed soon.

Rio Ngumoha in action for Chelsea. Image: Getty

Ngumoha could be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.

Van Dijk and Salah have been linked with moves away from the club, with both players only having one year left on their existing contracts.

But Slot is confident the pair of Liverpool first-team stars will stay and have the 'hunger to win'.

"I think in general every top player wants to win," he said in his first press conference for the Reds.

“I am hoping Virgil wants to win the Euros first, and then when he comes back after a few days of holidays, he will want to win like all players.

"They have the hunger to win. If you don't have that, you're not playing for a club like Liverpool."