£1m wonderkid gets opportunity to impress Arne Slot

Liverpool are in the midst of a centre-back rebuild.

The process began last summer when Richard Hughes signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m. The Italian teenager is expected to come into the reckoning for a first-team place next season when he recovers from injury.

The Premier League champions have also secured the signing of another promising central defender in the shape of Jeremy Jacquet.

He will join from Rennes in summer - once his £62m agreement goes through.

With Ibrahima Konate out of contract - and Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez due to depart a year later in 2027 - it’s clear big changes are coming to the heart of the defence.

Mor Talla Ndiaye signed by Liverpool

Recruitment has not been limited to the first-team picture either. We will see Ifeanyi Ndukwe arrive in summer - after the Austria Vienna defender turns 18 - and he will join fellow 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup pick Mor Talla Ndiaye in Rob Page’s U21s.

Liverpool’s Premier League 2 side are in red-hot form at present - and are gearing up for the playoffs. Page has now confirmed that 18-year-old Ndiaye should play some part in the run-in - giving Arne Slot’s first-team staff to assess his capability.

Ndiaye soon ready

The Senegal youngster was discovered to have an injury when he signed from Amitie in his homeland - but is now on the comeback trail.

“We’ve got Mor coming back in,” Page said according to This Is Anfield.

“Mor’s training with us every day now so we’ll build his fitness up gradually and hopefully we’ll get to see him in the next couple of weeks.”

Ndiaye could make first-team push

Liverpool’s seniors have had to make do with only three options at centre-back this season - Konate, Van Dijk and Gomez. Therefore a strong showing from Ndiaye once he comes into the lineup could put him in contention for an appearance with the first team.

Slot used three teenagers in the FA Cup against Wolves last week - Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Kieran Morrison.

The Dutch head coach has also given minutes to other youngsters this season in the shape of Wellity Lucky, Amara Nallo, Kaide Gordon and Jayden Danns.

Trent Kone-Doherty is another U21 star who had a run-out in the first team before departing for Molde in Norway.

Ndiaye knows the pathway is there - following his estimated £1m arrival in January. Now it’s up to him to seize the moment.

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