Liverpool may make an unpopular transfer decision after developments in Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season

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Liverpool supporters have become prone to questioning their club’s transfer methods after seeing the Reds sit on their hands too many times in recent years.Those outside the club can often see the glaring deficiencies within the Liverpool squad, but how often have we seen the people with the power to fix the issues – and bring reinforcements in – fail to act?This summer looks like being another to add to the list of frustrating transfer windows for Liverpool fans, with the centre-back question arguably causing the most nervousness. Who would be your choice of centre-back signing for Liverpool this summer?

And though the Austrian will not play for the Reds in 2026/27 because of work permit issues, his impressive summer is likely to mean Liverpool hold off on making a new signing this summer.Liverpool cannot block Ifeanyi Ndukwe’s pathwayHaving seen him dominate against Sunderland on Saturday, Liverpool fans were coming to the realisation that Ndukwe may be the reason they have not been linked to a more senior new centre-back this summer.Ndiaye was good as well, but after being given the nod to start – and be the only player to complete 90 minutes – during Thursday’s friendly win over Wrexham, Ndukwe looks like the preferred player for now.Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: It was obvious who Liverpool’s best player vs Wrexham was and Andoni Iraola is impressedWhen news filtered through that the 18-year-old could not play in the coming season, worries that Liverpool would indeed be leaving themselves short resurfaced, and have been causing anxiety amongst the fanbase.Nevertheless, while Liverpool do look light, and the absence of Ndukwe will obviously not help with that, the right move here is for the Reds to hold off in the market.Ndukwe looks set to bag a good loan move for the season, and when he returns as a 19-year-old next summer, he will, hopefully, have had a full campaign of first-team football under his belt. Pick Liverpool’s new front three with Bradley Barcola in it 👇 Who joins the Frenchman in Andoni Iraola's best attack?

Wataru Endo can be deployed as a centre-back, and although fans will likely be angry and annoyed at the lack of a new centre-back coming in, it just makes sense to go down this route.Ndiaye and Endo can make sure Liverpool are coveredLiverpool’s centre-back situation is more complicated than just this season, of course, with 2027 providing a key moment in the squad planning.Gomez and Van Dijk are both out of contract, and working on the scenario of them both leaving, that would mean Jacquet, Leoni, Ndukwe and Ndiaye being Liverpool’s four centre-backs going into the 2027 summer transfer window.That will obviously require all four youngsters to develop quickly, and while Ndukwe’s progress will be made out on loan, it is also key that Liverpool give Ndiaye the room to give himself a first-team chance as well.Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThough Endo is probably the most likely candidate as Liverpool’s fifth-choice central defender next season, Ndiaye should be just behind the Japanese, and has the potential to jump ahead of him.Having Endo and Ndiaye to fall back on, with a view to the Senegalese becoming a fully-fledged first-team member in 2027, means there is also little need to dip into the market for a new centre-back.There is also the possibility that Van Dijk will sign a new contract and stay at Anfield for another year or two. Until Liverpool know for sure that that is not happening, they shouldn’t be bringing in anybody else.It will not be popular with supporters, but Ndukwe’s emergence as a genuine prospect, along with Ndiaye looking promising as well, means that Liverpool are better off holding off for a year and seeing where the cards could fall next summer.