Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, who is under contract with Liverpool until June 2025, will be in talks to renew his contract this summer. However, his age is 33 and his career is nearing its end, and the search is on for someone who can take over the left side of the centre-back position in the new Arne Slot regime.
Liverpool have been linked with a wide variety of players, mainly left-back defenders, and 24-year-old defender Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, who has developed into one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, has been reported as one of the targets.
According to international media outlet TEAMtalk, Liverpool are growing confident of landing the England defender, who also played at EURO 2024, and could make a move worth around £65 million in the transfer market this summer.
The former Chelsea defender, who could be the Dutch manager’s first reinforcement as a senior player, has made 111 appearances for Crystal Palace. He has also made 16 appearances for the national team and has enjoyed steady development since leaving Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal are also said to be involved in the race for the player, and had been in the running for him behind the scenes. However, according to the Times, the club, led by Oliver Glasner, were put off by the asking price and changed their target to Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Mikel Arteta’s team are believed to be close to landing the Bologna defender and are unlikely to turn their attentions back to the England defender.
With fewer rivals, Liverpool are also holding discussions with their clubs and are reportedly encouraged by the transfer requests leaking out of the player’s side of the squad. However, they have no intention of being disloyal to their current club and will not move to use force, such as a transfer request.
It is a fine line between being worth £65 million and being able to reach Van Dijk’s level is also unknown. With the emergence of centre-backs in their early 20s such as Jarell Quansah and Sepp van den Berg, it may be unlikely that they will spend big money from their limited reinforcement budget.
So, will the defender, who has built up his reputation at EURO 2024, step up to a stronger club this summer…?