Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is approaching the end of the season after protracted contract negotiations with Liverpool. The concern is not only the length of his contract, but also his age: at 33 years old, he is also approaching the end of his career and is serious about finding a successor.
Indeed, various names of players have been floating around in the media, and candidates have emerged and disappeared. It is not known who Liverpool are really targeting, but 90min reported that they are looking at Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo as a new target.
It is tough for any player to take on the role of the Dutch centre-back, who is an absolute defensive leader; he has been with Barcelona since 2018 and has made 161 appearances so far. He also has plenty of experience in the Champions League and Europa League.
He has also started 20 games for the Uruguayan national team and has been through the gauntlet of international competition. However, in recent years he has had a number of periods out injured. He has had to learn to cope with injuries this season as well, having missed most of the season with a hamstring injury.
He is one of the best defenders in the world in terms of ability. In addition to the ball-handling and technique required of a modern centre-back, he also has the speed to take care of the back of the final line, which makes him a valuable asset for strong clubs.
The newspaper also reported that Barcelona are prepared to pay €25 million for Colombian international Luis Diaz, a player they are said to be interested in acquiring, as a trade partner.
However, this valuation would not be satisfactory to the Merseyside club. Considering the attacking players, a pure trade would be the right deal for both sides, even if there are differences in contract length.
At the moment, it seems unlikely that Liverpool would make a move for the 26-year-old centre-back, who has a long-term contract until 2031…