James Pearce: Liverpool ‘in talks’ to sign highly-rated defender | OneFootball

Liverpool in talks to sign 17-year-old defender

Liverpool are working on another youth recruitment play that could pay off in seasons to come. As first reported by James Pearce for The Athletic, “Liverpool are in talks to sign highly-rated young centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna.” With Arne Slot having won the Premier League title in his debut season, the club are now aiming to maintain that sort of success in the long-term.

Who is Ifeanyi Ndukwe?

Pearce notes the Vienna-born defender does not turn 18 until March and that Liverpool hope to reach an agreement in time before pre-season starts in the summer. At 6ft 5ins, Ndukwe offers an imposing frame, plus evidence of leadership, having captained at youth level and climbed quickly through Austria Vienna’s ranks.

Photo: IMAGO

He has also been tested on the international stage. “Ndukwe was part of the Austria team who reached the final of the Under-17s World Cup in Qatar in November where they lost 1-0 to Portugal.” That experience will matter if Liverpool believe he can handle the demands of elite coaching and heightened scrutiny.

Matt Newberry leading global talent search

Pearce reports that Ndukwe “has been identified by Liverpool’s director of global talent Matt Newberry and his team.” Newberry’s promotion into a dedicated global role has sharpened Liverpool’s reach, and this deal has the feel of a player selected for specific traits rather than a market opportunity.

Brexit rules affecting transfer timeline

The calendar is shaped by regulation. Pearce reminds readers that “Since 2021, following the UK’s exit from the European Union, Premier League clubs aren’t able to sign young players from overseas until after they have turned 18.” That explains the emphasis on July, even if talks progress well before then.

Under-21s pathway with Rob Page, senior potential later

Pearce writes that Ndukwe “would be recruited as part of Rob Page’s under-21s development squad initially but is viewed as a player with the potential to make the step up to the senior set-up.” That is the right starting point. Slot’s Liverpool are intense in possession and aggressive out of it, so young defenders need time to learn positioning, passing angles, and decision making.

If this one gets over the line, it will be a deal worth tracking across pre-season, and then through his first full year in England.