Stefan Borson: This is how much Liverpool could be forced to pay Chelsea for Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool could be forced to pay Chelsea up to £7million after a new Rio Ngumoha twist has emerged.
Ngumoha scored the winner for Liverpool in their dramatic victory over Newcastle United on 25 August, just minutes after coming off the bench to make his Premier League debut.
Ngumoha, who turned 17 on 29 August, spent eight years in Chelsea’s academy before joining Liverpool last summer.
That move hasn’t been taken well at Stamford Bridge, with the latest development rubbing salt into the Blues’ wounds.
The Telegraph reported on 26 August Ngumoha is at the centre of a “bitter” legal dispute between Liverpool and Chelsea following his move to Anfield.
Rio Ngumoha deal similar to Harvey Elliott transfer
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
Ngumoha’s case is due to be heard by a tribunal, which will decide how much compensation Arne Slot’s side will be forced to pay Chelsea.
Liverpool were previously ordered to pay Fulham up to £4.3million after signing Harvey Elliott in 2019 when he was just 16.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “It’ll be a few million quid.
“I think it seems quite similar to the Harvey Elliott situation, which I was reading about. I’m just looking now how much the Harvey Elliott one was. They paid a basic fee of £1.2million, with add-ons effectively.
“The fee could rise by another £2.6million, subject to a number of clauses being met based on cumulative first-team appearances and international recognition.
“And to get the full £4.3million, Elliott would need to play more than 100 games for Liverpool and be a senior international for England. They gave Fulham a sell-on clause as well. I mean, there’s the precedent.
“With an inflationary increase, I think you’re looking at about £5-7million maybe, which of course in the context of what we’ve seen this summer is a no-brainer.
“They may well agree something between the two parties because I think the parameters look pretty similar. They will have obviously before got great details about what happened in the deliberation on Harvey Elliott and how the two parties bid.
“But the situation seems pretty similar. The ages that the player was acquired seems pretty similar, and then the structure of the deal seems pretty similar as well.
“So, it feels like something that they could agree between themselves given that the numbers are not that great given where the market is now.”
Marc Guehi’s last-ditch move to Liverpool collapses
In terms of transfer activity, Marc Guehi saw his move to Liverpool collapse on deadline day (1 September).
Crystal Palace had agreed to sell their captain to the Reds in a £35million deal, but it fell through after Oliver Glasner’s side failed to sign a replacement.
Guehi will now remain at Selhurst Park until at least the January transfer window, with his contract set to expire in June 2026.
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