Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool reach agreement to complete defender deal

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed an agreement has been reached over a key deal for Liverpool.

Time is running out, and that applies to both Liverpool's transfer window and Richard Hughes' time at the club.

With the window entering its final few days, Hughes has very little room for error. He is expected to leave Anfield for Al Hilal once the summer business is complete, meaning these final days could have a major influence on how his spell at Liverpool is ultimately judged.

There is still plenty that needs sorting.

Liverpool are in the middle of a significant transition. Andoni Iraola has taken over from Arne Slot, several new players have arrived and changes are also taking place off the pitch with new minority shareholders coming into the club.

It is a clear shift in direction.

The problem is that the squad has not quite undergone the same transformation.

There are still weaknesses in key areas, particularly when it comes to depth and attacking options. At the same time, the futures of several players remain uncertain, creating another layer of complexity for Iraola as he prepares for his first season at Anfield.

The Spaniard needs a squad that is capable of handling the intensity and demands of his football. Right now, there are still questions over whether he has enough quality and depth to do that.

That makes the final days of the window particularly important.

For Hughes, this is about far more than simply adding another player or two. He needs to address the structural weaknesses that remain within the squad and make sure Liverpool do not repeat the mistakes of last summer.

The clock is ticking, and Hughes now has very little time left to get it right.

Obviously, it's not just incomings but outgoings as well.

There's so much uncertainty over the future of Cody Gakpo at the moment. Curtis Jones seems bound for Inter Milan.

And there are a number of other deadwood players who don't seem like they have a long-term future at Anfield.

This includes players like Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.

Hughes on top of this also has to sort out key contract extensions, including the one for when Rio Ngumoha celebrates his birthday next month.

But arguably the biggest headache he had to get right and this will have been a vital one for him to get right is the future of Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

The Austrian was magnificent in pre-season and it's a shame we won't be able to see him for the rest of the campaign as he does not have a work-permit.

That means that Liverpool have been on the hunt to find him the right loan deal which would not only develop him and give him regular game time but secure him the necessary work-permit to play for the Reds.

And now Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool have reached an agreement for Ndukwe to join Levante on loan.

This is a brilliant deal because Levante play in La Liga, so if Ndukwe plays regularly even for just six months, he should qualify for a work-permit.

On top of that, currently Levante only have three senior centre-back, which means Ndukwe should definitely get regular playing time.

All together, that means Liverpool have sorted out a key piece of business in the window, and Hughes can be proud of that.