Liverpool have opened talks with a centre-back to interchange Virgil van Dijk at Anfield, ought to the Dutchman depart the membership this switch window.
With Van Dijk’s contract set to run out in lower than 12 months, golf equipment in Saudi Arabia have began testing the water over a proposed switch. Van Dijk is reportedly fascinated about departing Liverpool this summer time, too, with the Reds inserting a £46.4m switch payment on him.
However whereas that price ticket is deemed too excessive proper now, Liverpool have began wanting elsewhere for centre-backs to interchange the 33-year-old, ought to he go away this summer time.Â
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Based on Caught Offside, Liverpool have recognized Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou as the perfect substitute for Van Dijk, with enquiries having already been made.
The Ivorian centre-back began 21 of his facet’s video games final season throughout their profitable Bundesliga title win, serving to preserve a complete of 9 clear sheets throughout that interval.
Kossonou fell out of favour considerably in the direction of the tip of the marketing campaign, nevertheless, with the report including that he has failed to reply to Leverkusen’s provide of an improved contract.
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Whereas he nonetheless has two years remaining on his present deal, the 23-year-old may subsequently be posturing for a transfer away from Germany this summer time. Liverpool must pay round £40m if they’re to deliver the younger denfeder to Anfield, regardless of him being valued at £30m by Transfermarkt.
A robust defender who’s tough to beat, Kossonou can be extraordinarily snug on the ball and is able to making line-breaking passes to get his crew superior up the pitch. He is additionally capable of play at right-back if wanted, too, with this versatility an awesome profit if supervisor Arne Slot ever decides to relaxation Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In FourFourTwo‘s view, dropping Van Dijk this summer time can be an enormous blow for Liverpool, nevertheless it would possibly show a profit in the long term. With Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah each out of contract subsequent summer time, too, slowly rebuilding the squad can be significantly better than making an attempt to interchange three key gamers unexpectedly. Kossonou is a highly-rated possibility as nicely, so would definitely make sense if Liverpool are to signal a brand new centre-back.Â
Van Dijk will not return to Liverpool for a number of weeks following Euro 2024 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
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