Liverpool could agree a deal in the January transfer window despite manager Arne Slott suggesting the central defender will not arrive at Anfield this month.
Liverpool are in talks for a central defender, but he is not immediately available to support Arne Slott’s first-team plans. The Reds are looking to the future and are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna.
The 17-year-old Austrian youth international won’t be able to join the Reds in the coming weeks as he won’t turn 18 until March. Premier League sides cannot officially sign young overseas players until they reach the age of majority, but early agreements are common, with Chelsea signing Estebao Willian and Kendry Paes long before they turned 18.
Liverpool hope an agreement can be finalized for Ndukwe to arrive on Merseyside in time for the start of pre-season training in July, The Athletic reports. The youngster will initially join the club as part of Rob Page’s Under-21 development squad.
However, the Reds reportedly view the player as a defender who could step up into the senior set-up. Ndukwe has been spotted by Liverpool’s new director of global talent, Matt Newberry, and his team.
Ndukwe has impressed in youth football and was part of the Austrian squad that reached the final of the Under-17 World Cup in November. The teenager, who stands 6ft 5in tall, rose through the ranks to become a regular in Austria’s Wien reserves in the 2024/25 season, signing a three-year contract in the summer.
read more: Unai Emery gives candid explanation about Harvey Elliott as Liverpool loanee offers new moveread more: Mo Salah gives Liverpool another exit route as his former club prepares to make a move
The center of defense has become an area of focus for Liverpool this summer, after allowing Jarrell Quansah to be sent off, but following the collapse of Marc Guehi’s transfer in the 11th hour of the second half. Ibrahima Konate’s contract expires at the end of the season, while Giovani Leoni has been out since injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in his first start for the club in September.
The Reds maintain interest in Guehi, 25, who becomes a free agent in the summer. Liverpool faces competition from overseas teams including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, with both sides able to hold pre-contract negotiations towards the end of the season.
Oliver Glasner was adamant that Guehi should not have left in September and that he did not want to lose him this month. When asked in January about the club’s plans to sign Guehi, he said bluntly: “Of course we want to keep everyone.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slott last month dismissed speculation that the Reds would bring in a new centre-back in January despite losing Joe Gomez to a hamstring problem. “First of all for myself, but of course Giovanni Leoni’s injury has had a pretty big impact,” Slott said in December.
“Even if you have four centre-backs during the season, two right-backs, two left-backs and Wata (Wataru Endo) and Ryan (Gravenbirch) are helping you out, if you injure your anterior cruciate ligament, that doesn’t really help you. It’s tough.
“And unfortunately, Joe is no longer with the team. Most teams have moments like this during the season. Some teams have so many (options) that most other teams don’t.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£43
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
