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Ifeanyi Ndukwe’s impressive Liverpool pre-season looks set to come to an end on Sunday, with the highly-rated young centre-back expected to leave the club on loan after the friendly against Como. According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Ndukwe is weighing up strong offers from Portugal, Germany and Denmark, while clubs in Belgium, France and Spain are also interested. It is another indication of just how much attention the 18-year-old has attracted after an excellent summer with Liverpool. And, honestly, it is a shame that we won’t get to see more of him at Anfield just yet. Ndukwe has grabbed his opportunity When Ndukwe was given opportunities during pre-season, he could easily have looked like a teenager simply trying to survive against senior opposition. Instead, he looked completely at home. His performance against Monaco was particularly impressive. Playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ndukwe looked composed, confident and mature beyond his years. He won his individual battles, moved the ball intelligently and wasn’t afraid to show his ability on the ball. Even Van Dijk appeared impressed by some of his defending. For an 18-year-old centre-back, that is incredibly encouraging. The work permit problem Unfortunately, Ndukwe’s situation isn’t about his footballing ability. He currently doesn’t qualify for a UK work permit, meaning he cannot play competitive football for Liverpool this season. That leaves the club with little choice but to send him out on loan. The positive is that a loan could actually be extremely beneficial for his development. Ndukwe needs regular senior football. And rather than spending months training at Liverpool without being able to play competitive matches, he can now go somewhere and establish himself. The choice of club is crucial Liverpool need to get this decision right. Ndukwe reportedly has offers from several countries, but the most important factor should be playing regularly. A move to a big-name club sounds attractive, but there is little point in joining somewhere where he spends most weekends on the bench. He needs to play. He needs to experience the pressure of senior football. And he needs to continue developing physically and tactically. The strength of the league and the amount of football he plays will also be important because Ndukwe needs to accumulate the necessary GBE points to improve his chances of securing a UK work permit. (This Is Anfield) Could we see him back in January? That is the exciting possibility. If Ndukwe chooses the right club and plays enough football at a sufficiently high level, he could potentially earn the points required for a work permit and have his situation reassessed in January. That means this doesn’t necessarily have to be goodbye for the season. Liverpool could potentially get a much more experienced Ndukwe back halfway through the campaign. Imagine what another six months of senior football could do for him. The player who returns to Anfield could be even more ready for first-team football than the youngster who impressed during pre-season. Liverpool have a decision to make Ndukwe’s situation also highlights just how important squad planning is. Liverpool have already had concerns about their centre-back depth, which makes losing an impressive youngster particularly frustrating. The arrival of Ronald Araújo on loan does provide additional cover, while Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni will also be options when everyone is fit. But Ndukwe has shown that he shouldn’t simply be forgotten. Liverpool have a potentially special young defender on their hands. The priority now is making sure his development continues. A loan could be the best thing for him As disappointing as it is that Ndukwe can’t remain at Liverpool, this could ultimately turn into a positive. He can leave Anfield with the confidence of knowing that he impressed the new manager. He can go into his loan spell knowing that Liverpool believe in his potential. And he can spend the season playing competitive football rather than waiting for an opportunity that isn’t currently available to him. The fact that clubs from Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France and Spain are interested tells you plenty about how highly he is regarded. (This Is Anfield) One more Anfield appearance Ndukwe is expected to feature against Como on Sunday before leaving Liverpool on loan. It will be another opportunity for supporters to watch a player who has quickly become one of the most exciting stories of Liverpool’s pre-season. And I think plenty of fans will be watching him closely. Because this doesn’t feel like the end of Ndukwe’s Liverpool story. It feels like the beginning. Go out. Play regularly. Develop. Earn that work permit. Then come back to Anfield ready to show everyone exactly what you can do. Liverpool supporters may have to wait a little longer to see Ifeanyi Ndukwe in a competitive match. But after what we’ve seen this summer, I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this young centre-back. Jamie (The Kopite View)