26 Jul 2026 17:02 BST |
4 min read
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Liverpool are in desperate need of defenders and one of their newest arrivals may have proven to be the solution – except the Premier League side will not be allowed to play him this season.
The Reds are looking to start a new era under Andoni Iraola and the Spanish coach enjoyed a 4-2 win over Sunderland in his first friendly in charge this week which featured a number of young stars.
However, the win was soured by Joe Gomez being forced off with injury early on to leave Liverpool already feeling the heat defensively in an area of the pitch they were already lacking depth in.
Virgil van Dijk is still on his pre-season break after the 2026 World Cup, while Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from his long-term ACL injury and new signing Jeremy Jacquet was also left out of the squad due to a precaution over a shoulder issue.
Gomez’s injury forced Iraola to bring on Ifeanyi Ndukwe to form a rookie partnership with fellow 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye in the heart of the defence, with both players being signed in January for a combined fee of less than €5 million.
Ndukwe in particular impressed and staked his case for a regular spot in Liverpool’s first team, however the Austrian youth international will be unable to feature beyond pre-season as he is not eligible for a work permit, giving Iraola more headaches in defence.
Why Liverpool cannot play their new breakout defensive star this season
Liverpool agreed to sign Ndukwe in January from Austria Vienna for around €3m, having starred at the under-17 World Cup, and the teenager proved a commanding presence against Premier League opposition with his 6 foot 6 inch frame.
However, due to post-Brexit rules for anyone without UK or Irish nationality, Ndukwe is set to be loaned out until he can qualify for a work permit via the points-based system.
Ndukwe’s professional appearance so far have come in the lower league for Austria Wien’s reserve team, which prevented him from accumulating enough points to qualify for a work permit.
Liverpool will therefore need to loan Ndukwe to a top division side in Europe, or one that plays in UEFA competitions, to ensure the youngster can generate enough points this year.
Ndiaye, meanwhile, arrived from Senegalese outfit Amitie for just over €1m but Liverpool are believed to have used one of their limited ESC (Elite Significant Contribution) spots to keep hold of him, however they may opt against doing the same for Ndukwe in order to save the exception for any further signings.
What next for Liverpool’s summer transfer window?
Liverpool have only signed winger Victor Munoz this summer in addition to the pre-agreed arrival of Jeremy Jacquet but the club are likely first prioritising a move for a Mohamed Salah replacement such as Bradley Barcola before addressing their defence.
The Merseysiders have already seen Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson leave on free transfers this summer and both senior stars will need to be replaced, with Gomez and Van Dijk representing the only defenders over the age of 25 in Iraola’s squad.
Speculation has been limited over Liverpool’s defensive targets and the transfer window has yet to take stride for the club, although business is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.
However, with plenty of work to do before the Premier League opener against Newcastle on 23 August, addressing the defence has become an even bigger priority for Liverpool amid growing frustration over the limited business so far.
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