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Liverpool find smart way to avoid growing transfer problem despite new Ifeanyi Ndukwe blow A number of Liverpool's home grown players are being linked with exits but the Reds have found a smart way to future-proof their quota Ifeanyi Ndukwe has been the breakout star for Liverpool during pre-season, making it all the more unfortunate that the Austrian remains ineligible to feature for the club's first team in competitive action. The 18-year-old does not currently qualify for a work permit, and will have to leave Anfield on loan as a result. Liverpool have already been inundated with loan offers for the teenager and are now weighing up which club will be the most likely to give the young centre-back the necessary minutes to qualify for a work permit. But in a further blow to the Reds, Ndukwe’s failure to qualify for a work permit also ensures they will not be able to register the Austrian as a home grown player after he turns 21. A "Home Grown Player" means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21). Had Ndukwe spent the next three seasons plying his trade in English (or Welsh) football, either at Liverpool or out on loan, he would qualify as home grown. But any temporary move overseas to help obtain a future work permit would result in the defender being unable to complete three seasons in English football prior to his 21st birthday. Supporters have grown increasingly aware of the Reds’ home grown quota in recent years, with Liverpool rarely finding themselves able to name a full 25-man squad and fill the full eight non-overseas berths in their senior squad. A lack of Reds representation in Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad at this summer's World Cup seemingly only drew further attention to such a shortcoming. Recent exits have not aided matters. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton and Ben Gannon-Doak were all sold last summer, while Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabio Carvalho, Bobby Clark and Sepp van den Berg also all left the club in the summers of 2023 and 2024 respectively. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott could become the latest home grown departees this summer as speculation about their own futures continues. Liverpool have partly bolstered their quota too, with the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong and Freddie Woodman helping compensate for some departees last summer. It was also well documented just how close they were to signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, they continue to be linked with a move for the England international’s former Eagles team-mate, Adam Wharton. But despite any supporter concern, the Reds do actually currently boast more than enough home grown players after a number of academy graduates became of age this summer, taking the overall total of such players currently at Anfield to 14. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page But whether a number of them could be classed as long-term first team options is up for debate. As already mentioned, speculation about both Jones and Elliott’s futures continue while Joe Gomez is out of contract next summer. Conor Bradley is currently a long-term absentee with a knee injury, with Frimpong and Woodman the remaining resounding senior stars. Beyond that, Stefan Bajcetic, Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon, Isaac Mabaya, James McConnell, Vitezslav Jaros, Owen Beck and Harvey Davies all qualify as home grown and are all now of age so would need to be registered in Liverpool’s 25-man squad if Andoni Iraola wishes to call upon them this season. The Reds have been future-proofing too courtesy of a number of signings at academy level. Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha will earn such status when they become of age in 2029/30 and 2030/31 respectively, with their early arrivals from Leicester City and Chelsea also ensuring they would earn club-trained status rather than just association-trained when it comes to Champions League registration. Will Wright could follow the same path in 2030/31 following his move from Salford City last summer. While Ndukwe will not be able to qualify for home grown status, Giovanni Leoni will in the 2028/29 season, providing he completes three years in England, following his £26m move from Parma last summer. Should those three seasons be completed at Anfield, he would also obtain club-trained status. The same is true of Mor Talla Ndiaye, who occupies Liverpool’s one available Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot to ensure he was granted a work permit despite not possessing sufficient points to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) to gain a work visa. Elsewhere, the likes of Lewis Koumas, Jayden Danns, Kieran Morrison and Josh Abe will also qualify in the forthcoming seasons after they turn 21. Not all of these players will become first-team stars for the Reds. But with senior home grown players often carrying an ‘English tax’ when it comes to the transfer window, as demonstrated by Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers as they both broke the record for a British player when joining Man City and Chelsea in £116m and £117m moves this summer, Liverpool have at least found a way to bolster their own quota without having to break the bank.