'I'm back in town!' - How Michael Edwards masterminded Liverpool summer signing that sent SHOCKWAVES through football | OneFootball

FSG's CEO of football Michael Edwards returned to the fold earlier this year and one summer signing has ALREADY shown he is up to his old tricks.

Edwards, who developed a penchant for recruiting youngsters during his last stint at Liverpool, has continued where he left off since his return to Merseyside this summer.

The signing of Rio Ngumoha may not be a huge hit in the mainstream media, but it's sent huge shockwaves through the academy community and Edwards is believed to be at the heart of the move.

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The chief executive had success with numerous young talents he brought to Anfield as sporting director, whether that's becoming first-team regulars or off-loading them when they're ready for first-team football at hefty prices.

Liverpool's academy roll of honour

Harvey Elliott, 16 at the time, signed from Fulham in 2019 and has now cemented himself a spot in Liverpool's first-team and has been one of the Reds' standouts in recent seasons.

Dominic Solanke arrived at the club in 2017, joining from Chelsea as a 17 year-old. The striker spent 18 months at Anfield, predominantly as a bench player under Jurgen Klopp, before departing to Bournemouth for an impressive fee of £19 million.

He elevated himself to become one of the Premier League's deadliest finishers - earning himself a £65 million move to Tottenham this summer, a move which banked a welcome windfall for the Reds.

Rhian Brewster is another example of Edwards' savvy in the market. He had a role in signing the striker as a 15-year-old from Chelsea and after multiple first-team appearences, he left for Sheffield United in a £23.5 million move.

FSG CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, pictured in 2018 while working as Liverpool's sporting director.

Edwards' influence lured Ngumoha

According to the Daily Mail, Edwards' contribution in tempting Ngumoha into swapping Chelsea for Liverpool should not go amiss with the 16-year-old initially willing to stay put at the London club.

Despite having soughted assurances with the Blues that there was a clear pathway to the first team for him, it's believed that Chelsea were slow in presenting the talent with a defined plan.

However by the time Ngumoha had realised this plan, it was too late, with Liverpool having proposed a clear strategy for first-team integration to the England youngster.

This is a statement signing by Edwards. Though it's not been a mainstream media story this summer, in years to come, this could be a coup that goes down as one of the chief executive's best pulls, with Ngumoha destined for the top.

"This is Edwards' 'I'm back in town' signing," one insider said.

When it comes to huge talents going on to pastures new from one academy to another, it's very easy to claim that a club has thrown big money on them and their family to finalise a deal.

But those who had knowledge on Ngumoha's situation this summer will understand Chelsea offered more money in a bid to keep their talented youngster, but a well proposed plan by Edwards and co. proved too inviting.

Ngumoha is already impressing in training

With domestic football pausing for the first international break of the new campaign, Ngumoha and fellow new signing Federico Chiesa have trained with Barry Lewtas' U21 side in the last week in a bid to work with the first-team staff and get to know the other youngsters.

The session was run by first-team individual development coach Aaron Briggs.

Ngumoha impressed imminently in training and Lewtas believed the training would be invaluable for the youngster to settle in and give him that sense of ease.

"It's a nice introduction for Rio. It's a chance for him to get to know the U21 players and an opportunity to train as well with the first-team staff.

"Getting to know people as soon as you come is really useful because it helps you settle, it makes you more familiar and it gives you that grounding," Lewtas said to Liverpool FC.

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