Ifeanyi Ndukwe is set to join Liverpool ahead of Inter Milan, though the move has drawn a mixed reaction from his international coach.
The Reds are close to signing the 17-year-old from Austria Vienna, with the defender due to arrive in England in the summer once he turns 18.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who would initially join Liverpool’s Under-21s, impressed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring in Austria’s 4-0 win over England en route to a narrow final defeat against Portugal.
Austria Under-18s manager Hermann Stadler believes the teenager deserves his move to Anfield, but admits it is a gamble and says he would have preferred him to remain in Austria a little longer.
“I’m extremely happy for Ify, he deserves it because he has made enormous progress in the last year,” Stadler told LAOLA1.
“In seven games (at the World Cup) he delivered a top performance in every single one. Just look at the number of goals we conceded – we only conceded two, one in the final and one against New Zealand. That speaks volumes about his defensive work.
“He received this offer from Liverpool partly because of the World Cup. He had also previously received an offer from Inter Milan, which, for whatever reason, was not finalised.
“I’m very happy that he’s signed with a top club. Personally, I think – and this is just my personal opinion, it doesn’t mean it’s right – it might have been good for him to stay at Austria for another year.
“He could learn alongside an experienced player like (Aleksandar) Dragovic and perhaps then go abroad at 18 or 19.
“He has no guarantee that he’ll make it big, neither at Austria nor at Liverpool. We’ll know more in two or three years.
“But I believe he has the potential to become a truly great centre-back.”
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