The 18-year-old centre-back’s progress in Spain has revived discussion about his longer-term future at Anfield, although current reporting suggests Liverpool still expect him to remain at Levante for the season.
Ndukwe joined the La Liga side on a season-long loan after Liverpool were unable to register him for competitive football in England because he did not initially meet the work-permit requirements. A move abroad offered him a route to regular senior football while he accumulated the eligibility points needed for a return.
According to recent reports, the Austrian youth international has now reached the required threshold. The Liverpool Echo has also reported that his representatives are expected to discuss his situation with the parent club, raising the possibility that his loan could be cut short.
However, that possibility should not be confused with a decision to recall him. The club has a January recall option, but there is no current intention to use it.
Ndukwe’s development has nonetheless given Liverpool more options. After a slower start to his spell, he has started consecutive matches for Levante and scored a late equaliser against Sevilla on his full debut, offering evidence that he can contribute at senior level.
Levante are likely to be reluctant to lose a defender they brought in for a season, particularly if he is beginning to establish himself in the side. Any early return would therefore involve more than a straightforward decision by Liverpool, with the loan arrangement and the Spanish club’s needs also relevant.
Liverpool’s own defensive picture will influence the decision. The club has several senior options, including Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araújo and Joe Gomez, while Giovanni Leoni has been working towards a return from a serious knee injury. That competition could make regular minutes in Spain more useful to Ndukwe than a return to Anfield without a clear role.
The original loan was designed to solve an eligibility problem while giving the teenager a chance to adapt to senior football. Becoming eligible to play in England changes the possibilities, but does not automatically mean Liverpool will bring him back.
For now, the key distinction is between reported discussions about his future and a confirmed recall. Ndukwe’s progress has made a January return possible, but the latest available reporting points towards Liverpool preferring to let him continue developing at Levante unless their circumstances change.