Liverpool face two uncomfortable transfer truths even if Virgil van Dijk stays

Virgil van Dijk claims there has been “progress” in contract talks with Liverpool – but the Reds still need to replace him this summer even if the club captain remains in situ at Anfield

Liverpool need a new centre-half this summer – even if Virgil van Dijk stays. Van Dijk claims there has been “progress” in his contract talks with Liverpool as they try to avoid losing him on a free in June.

But the Liverpool and Netherlands skipper will be 34 in July and Liverpool need to begin the process of replacing him this summer. Liverpool need to sign someone now to take over from van Dijk in the next 12 to 24 months. Jamie Carragher, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a top defender at Anfield, feels the Reds need a centre-half to take some of the pressure off him.

As brilliant as van Dijk has been this season for the champions elect, he has looked vulnerable in their last two games. He was beaten twice by Everton’s Beto in the Merseyside derby and the Portuguese striker’s first effort was disallowed for offside before his second hit the post.

Van Dijk was then embarrassed by Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz as he turned him before scoring in the Cottagers’ 3-2 win on Sunday.

Head coach Arne Slot is a massive believer in van Dijk’s centre-half pairing with Ibrahima Konate. Slot appears to have less confidence in Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez and rarely breaks up his first-choice defensive pairing to give them game time. He was reluctant to even play Quansah at right-back, preferring the round peg of midfielder Curtis Jones in that square hole.

That underlines his need for back-up for van Dijk and Liverpool have been scouring the Premier League and Europe for reinforcements.

Dean Huijsen’s star is in the ascendancy at Bournemouth and the teenager, who turns 20 on Monday, has been a revelation since his £12.8million summer move from Juventus. Although Amsterdam born, he grew up in Spain and impressed on his debut for his adopted country in their Nations League win over The Netherlands last month. Huijsen has a £50million escape clause and is being watched by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, is the top English candidate, but Everton rejected Manchester United’s £50million offer last summer and want at least £70million for the Cumbrian, who they feel is the new John Stones. That’s a lot of money for a player who has yet to establish himself in England’s squad and it has gone quiet on the possibility of him moving across Stanley Park to Anfield.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Aurele Amenda is doing well in Germany and is already a Swiss international at 21. Amenda would not be cheap and he has four years on his Frankfurt deal.

Greece international Konstantinos Koulierakis, 21, is having a fine first season in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg since joining from PAOK Salonika last summer. Again, his transfer value is only going up and Wolfsburg would want to start the bidding at £35million.

In this increasingly-competitive market and with AI recruitment on the rise, there are no bargains and Liverpool could be set for a busy – and expensive – summer.

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