Liverpool in talks to sign Austria Vienna centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe | OneFootball

Liverpool are in talks to sign Austria Vienna centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, according to The Athletic journalist James Pearce.

The 6ft 5in defender would initially be part of Rob Page’s under-21s development squad. However, he is viewed as a player capable of making the step up to the senior team.

Liverpool are hoping to agree a deal for the teenager to move to England for the start of pre-season training in July.

Premier League clubs are unable to sign young players from overseas until they turn 18 due to Brexit, but it has not stopped the Reds from pursuing Ndukwe. He celebrates his 18th birthday in March.

He has yet to make his Austrian Bundesliga debut, but he has been named on Austria Vienna’s first-team bench this term.

Ndukwe captained Austria Vienna’s Under-16s and has been a regular at reserve team level since 2024-25.

Several big clubs were impressed with his performances at the Under-17s World Cup in Qatar in November. He helped Austria reach the final, where they lost 1-0 to Portugal.

Ndukwe was part of the team that defeated Arsenal’s Under-21s 4-1 in pre-season back in July, and he could now be playing against them regularly in the coming months.

Liverpool are scouring England and Europe for some of the best youngsters around as they prepare for the future, and the Austrian has convinced them.

He would be on his way to Merseyside in the summer if all goes according to plan, and more youth additions are expected.