Liverpool loanee Ifeanyi Ndukwe continues to impress during his spell at Spanish side Levante, as the young defender has pushed his way into the team as a regular starter

The Spanish media have predicted that Ifeanyi Ndukwe could become "one of the world’s top center-backs" after the Liverpool star's impressive start to life with Levante.

The 18-year-old has continued to move from strength to strength in recent months, catching the eye during preseason for the Reds in a team that was lacking defensive options at the time.

While the early signs were positive, the young defender couldn't stay on Merseyside for the season. Work permit rules and his early career to date meant that he fell short of the points requirement for a GBE permit, while Liverpool had used up all of its ESC slots, which would have allowed him to feature this campaign.

The only way around it was to send Ndukwe on loan so he could accrue more points, so he joined Levante, knowing that one start would be enough for him to qualify for a visa when he makes his return to Liverpool.

There was a slow start at first, but the Austrian center-back has started to pick up some momentum in the team, starting the last three games in a row. Ndukwe's latest start came in a 3-1 win over Athletic Club, as a Roger Brugue brace was followed up by a Karl Etta Eyong finish to secure another important three points.

It was another match in which the Liverpool loanee earned praise, with the Spanish media offering clear thoughts on a player growing in confidence.

Plaza Deportiva gave Ndukwe a 6.5 out of 10 rating for his display, and simply said: "Solid. He's gaining confidence with playing time. He played a complete game."

Meanwhile, AS was also full of praise, claiming: "He contributed a lot defensively and formed a great partnership with Mandi. He controlled Athletic's attackers without suffering too much."

Superdeporte went into some depth on Ndukwe's display, but also offered a promising glimpse into the future, which reads: "A back-pass—saved in the nick of time by Ryan—nearly put him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, much like what happened against Sevilla.

"However, he was far from passive: he cleared everything that entered his zone and repelled most of the crosses that threatened the penalty area. If he continues like this, he will establish himself as one of the world’s top center-backs for the future."

It's quite the bold claim, which Liverpool will be hoping is correct, if the early signs are anything to go by. However, for now, the priority will be to continue getting experience before he can reach the heights.

Those early performances do create an interesting dilemma for Liverpool when it comes to the defender's short-term future. The Reds have an option to recall the youngster, should they wish to bolster the defense, after becoming eligible for a work permit.

It remains to be seen what the club will do, and how much of that will be dictated by potential injuries in the backline between now and the January transfer window. However, either way, the long-term future looks bright for Ndukwe.