Liverpool have reportedly secured the signing of a promising young defender ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Reds were keen on acquiring now-Manchester City defender Marc Guehi, but a deal fell through on deadline day last summer.
In response to their defensive needs, Arne Slot’s side has successfully signed another player for that position.
Liverpool Signs Young Defender Following Marc Guehi Miss
The Merseyside club has dealt with significant challenges in their defensive line recently, particularly after one of their potential signings, teenage defender Giovanni Leoni, suffered an ACL tear on his Liverpool debut in September.
The new addition does not carry the experience Guehi would have brought; however, there is optimism at Anfield that they have discovered another promising talent to develop.
According to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, Liverpool has successfully signed Ifeanyi Ndukwe, a centre-back from Austria Vienna.
The 17-year-old is said to have been signed for €4.2 million (£3.6 million), but he will not be eligible to join the Premier League squad until the summer due to regulations prohibiting the signing of players under 18, a milestone Ndukwe will reach in March.
Sparking interest across Europe, Liverpool faced competition from Italian side Inter Milan and others, but are believed to have won the race for the young defender's signature, as reported by Kurier.
The Austria national team's U18 coach, Hermann Stadler, expressed his sentiments, stating: "He’s developed superbly and will go far. I would have liked to see him play in Austria for another year. In two or three years, we’ll see if it was the right move."
While the interest in Ndukwe from various European clubs highlights Liverpool's potential success in securing him, it may be some time before his impact is felt on the first team.
The young Austrian has yet to make a senior appearance with his current club, and the Premier League presents a significantly tougher challenge compared to Austria’s top division.
Nonetheless, given the shortage of available players in the back line, those at Anfield remain hopeful for him to contribute sooner rather than later when he officially joins in the summer.
Ndukwe is valued at €1 million, according to Transfermarkt.
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