Virgil van Dijk has urged team-mate Ifeanyi Ndukwe to make the most of his loan spell this season following a promising start to his Liverpool career under Andoni Iraola.
Ndukwe has featured from the start in all four of the Reds' pre-season fixtures thus far, having joined the club at the beginning of July from Austria Vienna. Liverpool invested approximately £2.6million in the teenager in January before a summer switch followed his 18th birthday in March. He has subsequently impressed defensively in matches against Sunderland, Wrexham, Leeds United and Monaco.
Work permit issues force loan
But Ndukwe must secure a loan away from Anfield for the upcoming season due to work permit complications that ban him from playing under Iraola in the 2026-27 campaign. Interest in his talents is anticipated to grow before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool would require a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA to assist them in obtaining a work visa from the Home Office, but the centre-back does not yet meet the criteria, with footballers needing 15 points across multiple categories.
Van Dijk's advice
Ndukwe registered just one senior outing for Austria Vienna last season and was signed after excelling in the Under-17s World Cup for Austria in Qatar last November, meaning he has not yet accumulated the necessary points to meet the senior international requirements.
And Reds skipper Van Dijk, who lined up alongside a player 17 years his junior in the opening period of Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Monaco, says Ndukwe must ensure the temporary move benefits his Liverpool future.
"Obviously I saw the games in pre-season in America," Van Dijk said. "He's a big talent, big guy and he wants to learn and I had a brief conversation with him, especially in the last couple of days."
"For him it is just progressing. I know he has to go on loan I think so let's see where he ends up. Yeah [it's a shame he has to move on loan]."
"I don't know exactly what the rules are but the matter of fact is that he has to go on loan and wherever he goes, he needs to learn, get better and be ready when he comes back to hopefully stay there."
Other new arrivals
Van Dijk also commented on other recent signings. "I've not seen any of [Jeremy Jacquet]. I've spoken to him. I've seen him walking around and we have conversations. I can't wait to see him back on the pitch and I hope that happens very, very soon."
"I'm not a doctor, so I don't know exactly the situation, but I have a feeling this week he could be back on the pitch, and hopefully as soon as possible."
Regarding another new arrival Victor Munoz, who made his debut appearance following his £34.5m switch from Osasuna in June, Van Dijk continued: "He started [training] also on Wednesday."
"He is very fast and it has been good to see the kind of quality he can bring to the club, and I think he had a great reception. It is just for him to carry that on to the next."
