Liverpool have initiated discussions to secure the signing of a young central defender this January, a move that looks firmly towards the future rather than providing an immediate solution for manager Arne Slot.
Targeting Teenage Talent
The player in question is Ifeanyi Ndukwe, a 17-year-old who currently plays for Austrian club Austria Vienna. Despite the talks, the 6ft 5ins teenager will not be able to formally join the Anfield club until he turns 18 in March, due to Premier League regulations on signing minors from abroad.
Such early agreements are common, with Chelsea's deals for Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez serving as recent precedents. Liverpool's hope is to finalise terms now for Ndukwe to arrive on Merseyside in time for the start of pre-season training in July.
Development Pathway and Scouting
Initially, the Austria youth international would join Rob Page’s under-21s development squad. However, the Reds' hierarchy, including new director of global talent Matt Newberry, view Ndukwe as a prospect with genuine potential to graduate to the senior setup.
Ndukwe has already made an impression on the international stage, helping Austria reach the final of the Under-17s World Cup in November. He also broke into Austria Vienna's reserve team during the 2024/25 season and signed a three-year contract last summer.
Defensive Context and Guehi Interest
This future-focused move occurs against a backdrop of uncertainty in Liverpool's first-team defensive ranks. The club saw a summer move for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi collapse at the last minute and subsequently allowed Jarell Quansah to depart.
Current issues include Ibrahima Konate's contract expiring this summer and a serious injury to Giovani Leoni, who suffered an ACL injury in his first start for the club back in September. Joe Gomez is also currently sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Liverpool maintain an interest in the 25-year-old Guehi, who will be a free agent in the summer, but face stiff competition from clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been adamant he does not want to lose his defender this month.
These factors had led to speculation about a January defensive signing, but manager Arne Slot publicly dismissed that possibility last month, citing the need to manage with the squad available despite the injury setbacks.
The pursuit of Ndukwe, therefore, represents a strategic, long-term investment in defensive reinforcements, aligning with the club's model of identifying and developing young talent for the years ahead.
