Liverpool have 'NEW' forward | OneFootball

It's been very clear that Arne Slot wants six forward options every season.

This has been imperative for him from the start, which is why Richard Hughes signed Federico Chiesa last season. It's why the club's sporting director is now working very hard to secure Alexander Isak's signature.

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But it's also why eyebrows have been raised by the club's decision to allow Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Ben Doak all depart. Especially in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy that happened to Diogo Jota earlier this summer.

In their place Liverpool have only technically brought in one attacker so far.

But that's not entirely true. In fact, the club have already signed one new forward without the fans even realising it.

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You see 'new' signings come in different shapes and sizes. They aren't always a direct transfer between two clubs. Sometimes you can bring in a new player without spending money.

Liverpool have always prided themselves on acting smart in the market. Making the right decisions and the right times.

That's what they did last summer. They signed Chiesa and they also signed another young forward in Rio Ngumoha.

At the time, it was clear the youngster was for the future. Ngumoha wasn't a player the club wanted to sign immediately for the first team. However, it was clearly the plan for him to ultimately come into that environment sooner rather than later.

This has clearly come much sooner than expected.

Even last season, Ngumoha was regularly training with the club's first team and he'd already made his senior debut in the FA Cup.

In pre-season this summer the teenager proved he was more than capable of stepping up to that level. Ngumoha scored three times and made two assists, meaning he ended the campaign with the second most goal contributions this summer.

Yet even after all of that, there were doubts whether he could step-up and become the sixth option for Slot's side.

Well, he's quashed those doubts aside. Against Newcastle United, Ngumoha came and conquered. When the push came to shove, he stepped up and put the ball away to make sure Liverpool took all three points from St James' Park.

And in return he pretty much confirmed that Liverpool have their new forward option. This is why they won't pursue two attackers this summer but only just one - Alexander Isak.

In Ngumoha they have a 'new' addition to the first team, and sometimes these are just as big of a signing as the big marquee arrivals.