Liverpool will not be able to call on Ifeanyi Ndukwe during the upcoming season despite the defender impressing during pre-season. The 18-year-old was forced off the bench early in the Reds' 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville but will be unavailable for Premier League matches due to work permit reasons.
Impressive Pre-Season Outing
Ndukwe was named on the bench by Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola for the first friendly of the summer. He was called into action in the 10th minute after Joe Gomez suffered an early injury. The teenager went on to put in an impressive performance, catching the eye of supporters amid a lack of senior defensive options.
Work Permit Blocks First-Team Action
According to The Athletic, Ndukwe does not have the required number of points on his work permit to play for Liverpool's first team this campaign. As a result, the report states that Liverpool are expected to loan him out for the upcoming season to secure regular first-team minutes.
Background on Transfer
Liverpool signed Ndukwe from Austria Vienna in January for a reported fee of around £2.5 million, but the teenager only officially joined Anfield this summer. He will continue to feature in pre-season, but a loan move away from Merseyside may materialise in the coming weeks.
Austria Vienna sporting director Michael Wagner explained at the time of the transfer: "It is a great honour that one of the world's best football clubs has shown interest in one of our home-grown players. The agreement with Liverpool FC is structured in such a way that Austria Vienna will come out well in any scenario, regardless of whether the option is exercised or not."
He added: "For me, this is a clear win-win situation for both clubs. Above all, this story is a great tribute to the excellent work that is done in our academy every day."
