Liverpool Make Huge Claim Over Two Wonderkids After Beating Real Madrid for Signing

Liverpool believes massively in their youth players, and the system around them has always been exceptionally high, with the senior squad and the academy linked together seamlessly both on and off the pitch.

But the club have also been stepping up their efforts in recruiting top talent from abroad, before they truly shine on the world stage, aiming to bring these players in during the prime developmental years of 15, 16, 17 years old, and help shape them into perfect fits for the senior squad. 

The two most recent signings that fall under this strategy are Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Lucca Brughmans.

A player that fans will be more familiar with, Ndukwe was one of the breakout stars of pre-season during the summer, and has impressed not only fans who managed to catch a glimpse of the young talent, but also the coaches and senior figures within the LFC camp. 

The central defender was called upon for large parts of Andoni Iraola's pre-season fixtures, due to a lack of available senior defenders at the time. And while many players may struggle with being thrown into the deep end in those types of situations, Ndukwe flourished. 

Across the three and a half games he featured in over the summer preparations, the Austrian centre-back was outstanding.

Composed on the ball, going on line-breaking runs forward, and having an excellent eye for a pass, he looked the complete package and was already drawing comparisons to Virgil van Dijk.

Following the conclusion of pre-season, Ndukwe departed on loan to La Liga side Levante as he needed to secure game time in a top league in order to obtain enough points to get a UK work permit.

At just 18 years old, there is already so much to love about Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and he is set to have a bright future in a Reds shirt, with the club feeling he is the best young defender in the world, according to Lewis Steele.

One of the club's late deadline day signings during the summer window was the completion of a deal to bring Belgian shot-stopper Lucca Brughmans to Anfield from next season. 

Signed from Genk, Brughmanns is one of the most highly regarded goalkeepers in world football. Known for his stature, standing at 6'6", his top shot-stopping ability, leadership qualities, given that he has already captained his country at youth level, and his ball-playing skills. 

It is therefore little wonder why he has attracted the interest of every top club in Europe, with all of them trying to get their hands on a goalkeeper being labelled by some as the "next Courtois".

But the Reds acted with speed and precision, as they so often do in the transfer market, getting this deal completed within a day for a reported £29.9 million, amid growing interest from Real Madrid.

Lewis Steele has reported that Brughmans had been taken to Madrid for talks previously, and that all signs pointed towards a move to the Spanish giants.

But Mike Newberry, director of global talent at LFC, stepped in and, along with the club's recruitment team, sold Brughmans the Liverpool project, and he signed for the Merseyside outfit.