Liverpool has confirmed the signing of 18-year-old center-back Mor Talla Ndiaye, with the Senegalese teenager set to join the Reds' U21s side under Rob Page.
Ndiaye was previously playing for the Senegalese second-tier outfit Amitie FC, but will move to Merseyside to take the next steps in his career. The young defender — whose full name is El Hadji Mor Talla Ndiaye — impressed at the recent U17 World Cup in Qatar, starting all four games at the tournament, which ended with Senegal’s elimination by Uganda in the round of 32.
A talented prospect, Ndiaye will help bolster Liverpool’s defensive options at youth level. With a lack of senior alternatives available, Wellity Lucky has become an almost permanent fixture in Arne Slot's matchday squads of late.
It is understood that the Reds are also in talks to bring in Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna. That would be a move lined up for the summer.
Ndiaye is a left-footed center-back who plays on that side of the defense. He will join the academy ranks to begin with, where the Reds are looking to increase their options.
Though the moves for Ndiaye and Ndukwe are unrelated, Liverpool is light of options at senior level at the moment after it missed out on Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the summer.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
That deal broke down when Crystal Palace failed to source a replacement, with other clubs, including Manchester City and Arsenal, now also sniffing around the England ace.
Ahead of the Reds' goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, Slot wasn't keen to talk about potential interest from Manchester City for Guehi.
Recently, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner admitted that a big enough offer would mean Guehi departing Selhurst Park this month. However, there is no guarantee that one is set to be forthcoming.
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Liverpool — and any other interested teams — could sign Guehi in the summer for nothing, because his Crystal Palace contract is set to expire and the player does not intend to renew.
Clubs around Europe, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona, are also said to be keen and are allowed to speak with him right now.
"I never talk about transfers in public, let alone about a transfer for maybe another club," Slot said when asked about the possibility of having to compete with Manchester City for Guehi.
"You can try, but my answer is always the same. We don’t talk about players that are not ours."