Ndukwe impressed for Liverpool during pre-seasonCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Ifeanyi Ndukwe can become an elite talent but Liverpool have been warned not to recall the youngster from his loan with Levante.
The 18-year-old has started the Spanish club's last five games and helped them avoid defeat in the first three of them after signing on a season-long loan from Anfield.
3Ndukwe impressed for Liverpool during pre-seasonCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Who is Ifeanyi Ndukwe?
He has recorded 46 clearances, made three interceptions and won three tackles in the total of his seven appearances in trying to help the side to break out of LaLiga's relegation zone.
His performance earned strong reviews in the Spanish media, with one journalist even predicting Ndukwe to become 'one of the world's leading centre-backs'.
Additionally, the youngster has been called up on Thursday by the Austrian Under-19 national team.
His parent club are currently struggling from defensive issues as they took their goals conceded tally to 10 in Europe this season after a 3-2 loss to Fenerbahce on Wednesday night.
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The lack of defensive organisation was particularly concerning, with Liverpool repeatedly struggling to track runners and defend deliveries into dangerous areas.
Ndukwe's Levante loan
When asked whether Liverpool should recall the young centre-back, talkSPORT's European football expert Andy Brassell said: "Because why? He's in a good place, not just because Levante are a club that are trying hard to stay up and trying hard to develop from there.
"The fact that they're in LaLiga and they're playing really good opposition every week, I think the big thing for him is he's got a really, really great experience centre-back next to him in Aissa Mandi, who has done his reps in Ligue 1, in LaLiga.
"He's 35 years old now. So, almost old enough to be Ndukwe's dad. And to have someone like that guiding you through the games and teaching you as you go and picking you up when you make a mistake, which he will inevitably do and he already has. I think to me that feels like a really great spot for him.
"I think the interesting thing though, if we're looking at how Ndukwe might develop, what I really love about him when you see him on the pitch from these early impressions is the fact that it's not a one-way street.
"It's not like Mandi's talking him through it and he's just nodding and going, 'yes'. Instead, there's actually a great line of communication.
3Ndukwe has scored one goal so far for Levante against SevillaCredit: Getty
"So, he'll turn around and say to his teammates, 'No, you should be there. No, you should be there. I'm going to go here, you drop in there'.
"And I think to have that level of confidence when you're playing abroad for the first time, when you're only 18 years old and with that Liverpool etiquette, you've got a bit of a target on your back as well, it's fair to say. I really like that about him. So, I'm looking forward to seeing him develop more."
Ndukwe's future
Ndukwe started his career at the academy of Austria Wien and was signed by Liverpool in January 2026, with the deal of joining in the summer for £2.6million.
He made his senior debut for Austria Wien in the Vienna derby prior to his move to Merseyside.
Brassell added: "Whether he's going to be good enough for Liverpool, I don't think we can know yet. But Liverpool don't know that either.
"They've invested hoping that he will turn into a player who can compete with [Jeremy] Jacquet and [Giovanni] Leoni and all these going forward. But they can't know. Like the rest of us, they're just finding out at the moment.
3Iraola's side were beaten in Turkey on Wednesday following defeat to Arsenal at the weekendCredit: Getty
"And the best thing to do is to leave him there and see how the rest of this season goes."