Liverpool are set to make an exciting signing for the future after closing in on a deal for Austria Vienna youngster Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Supporters have been desperately hoping for a new addition at centre-back this January, and while he may not be the first-team player they had been praying for, Ndukwe is a huge prospect.
Reports suggest that the 17-year-old will join this summer and immediately head into the Liverpool U21s before making an expected leap to the senior team.
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The 17-year-old is a HUGE prospect
Austria's Ifeanyi Ndukwe celebrates after scoring during the FIFA U17 World Cup match against England (Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun - FIFA).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun/FIFA
DOB: 03/03/2008
Position: Centre-Back
Favoured foot: Right/both
Height: 1.98m
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Ndukwe’s signing may not pay off immediately, but in time there is seemingly a belief that he could go onto become a top-level defender.
In order to get him out of Vienna, Liverpool will reportedly have to pay what will go down as a record-breaking fee, but it’s one which could look like an incredible bargain in years to come.
Liverpool to pay more than £2m for Ifeanyi Ndukwe
Despite his eye-catching performances for Austria at the recent U17 World Cup in Qatar, Ndukwe is actually yet to make his senior debut at club level.
The teenager has been in matchday squads for Austria Vienna, but has so far only played for the club’s second team.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe celebrates after scoring for Austria during the FIFA U17 World Cup match against England.
Photo by Jurij Kodrun – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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READ MORE: What Liverpool’s move for Ifeanyi Ndukwe means for fans’ hopes of a first-team January arrival
As a result, there is a limit to what they could realistically ask Liverpool to pay. But according to Austrian outlet Laola1, they have still managed to agree a fee of 3 million Euros.
Converting to around £2.6m, this would reportedly be a record sale for an U18 player in Austria, with the current highest being the 1.7 million Euros Genoa paid Frosinone to sign Robert Gucher in 2010.
As well as the initial transfer fee, Liverpool are said to have agreed to ‘various bonuses’ which could ultimately cause a ‘substantial increase’ in Ndukwe’s price. Vienna are also claimed to have negotiated a sell-on fee for the centre-back.
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Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge pictured during the UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon de Portugal at Jose Alvalade Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey
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Arsene Wenger is ‘raving’ about Ifeanyi Ndukwe
Clearly, Liverpool were not the only admirers for Ndukwe. Laola1 report that Austria Vienna turned down a 1.5m Euro offer from an unnamed club for the youngster ahead of the U17 World Cup this winter.
He is obviously one of the most highly-rated teenagers in the game, and has also apparently caught the eye of legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
According to Laola1, Wenger has been ‘raving’ about Ndukwe, and is reportedly ‘certain’ that he will be a success in a top five European League.
The Frenchman is claimed to have even gone as far as naming Liverpool’s new addition as one of the best defenders he has ever seen at U17 level.
Liverpool’s willingness to pay such a big sum for Ndukwe shows that they may be feeling the same. If everything goes to plan, he could be worth 50 times more in the future.
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