Liverpool may already have its sights set on three players to replace Virgil van Dijk this summer should the defender leave Anfield.
Van Dijk, like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, is set to become a free agent this summer, with his contract at Liverpool drawing near to its expiration. With just over a couple of months left in the season, no agreement has yet been reached with the Reds captain or either of his teammates.
Speaking after the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this week, Van Dijk admitted he still has “no idea” what the future holds for him, with contract talks still ongoing. As things stand though, the 33-year-old – who could lift his second trophy as captain tomorrow in the Carabao Cup final – will leave Anfield in the summer.
Losing Van Dijk would be a huge blow to Liverpool. The Netherlands international has once again showed his prowess this season, emerging as one of the Reds’ standout performers as they close in on the Premier League title.
According to reports in Germany though, Liverpool may already have a plan in place should they need to replace the defender, with three names having been shortlisted.
BILD’s Christian Falk claims that the Reds have their eyes on Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Wolfsburg’s Konstantinos Koulierakis. Of the three, Koulierakis would appear to be the cheapest option, with Falk revealing he has a market value of around $16.4 million (€15M).
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The report comes amid suggestions that Liverpool is poised to win the race for Guehi’s signature. According to Mirror Football, Anfield is the England international’s preferred destination, and a deal is expected to be finalized in the summer.
Chelsea looks to be the main competition for Guehi’s signature, while there could also be last-minute interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham. All four clubs have been keeping tabs on Guehi following his standout season at Palace and his progress with England on the international stage.
Liverpool.com says: Even if Van Dijk stays this summer, Liverpool needs to be planning ahead and thinking about who will be the Dutchman’s heir. With doubt over Joe Gomez’s future as well, the Reds need to be signing at least one new defender in any case.
You certainly wouldn’t expect Guehi to come cheaply from Palace, so someone like Koulierakis could come into the reckoning as well if that market value is accurate. Liverpool doesn’t want to leave itself in a position next season where it’s running out of options at the back, like it is ahead of tomorrow’s final at Wembley.