Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool agreement, paving way for January move of ‘huge talent’
Liverpool are believed to have reached a provisional agreement to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the deal is in place.
The Reds have reportedly wrapped up a move for the 17-year-old centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window.
The development aligns with Liverpool’s continued strategy of targeting elite young prospects across Europe.
Liverpool set to land Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Wien
Romano shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), with Austria Wien understood to have formally sanctioned the transfer.
Ndukwe has made eight appearances for Wien’s youth side during the 2025/26 campaign, logging a total of 548 minutes.
Despite his age, the defender already measures an imposing 6ft 5in, according to Transfermarkt.
Ndukwe doesn’t address Liverpool’s centre-back concerns
That said, Liverpool’s well-documented centre-back dilemma remains unresolved.
Virgil van Dijk — under contract until 2027 — continues to anchor the defence, but the club must urgently plan for life after their modern-day great.
Ibrahima Konaté’s situation is far less settled, with contract negotiations yet to produce any clarity for Arne Slot’s side.
Meanwhile, Giovanni’s long-term ACL injury raises fears of unrealised potential, particularly after his standout performance against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool are believed to be exploring alternatives in the market, including Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, though such moves are not expected to happen in January.
Joe Gomez adds another layer of concern
As if matters weren’t complicated enough, Joe Gomez suffered another setback after colliding with Alisson Becker during the 3–2 loss to Bournemouth.
While the injury was clearly accidental, it once again underlines the defender’s ongoing fitness issues.
Availability is becoming a priority for Liverpool — and alongside Van Dijk’s durability, long-term reliability is something the club can no longer afford to overlook.
