Arne Slot IDENTIFIES Virgil van Dijk Liverpool transfer replacement

While many fans will be in despair should Virgil van Dijk leave Liverpool this season, the Reds may have identified a player who ‘ticks all the boxes’ as one of the club’s potential replacements for the Dutchman.

Of course, the contract negotiations for Liverpool’s captain may still prove successful, but 33-year-old isn’t getting any younger, and Liverpool may opt for a pro-active approach in replacing the centre-back, as they have done with Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

According to sources from Football Insider, Arne Slot has been ‘won over’ by Crystal Palace talent Marc Guehi as a player to provide cover and competition for Van Dijk.

After excelling in England’s European Championship campaign last summer, where they finished runners-up to Spain, the left-footed centre back has grown in Liverpool’s estimations, with a move potentially on the cards.

Brentford v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Gtech Community Stadium Crystal Palace s Marc Guehi warming up prior to kick-off before the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford. Picture date: Sunday August 18, 2024. EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRL Copyright: xJohnxWaltonx 77176973

Whilst captaining Crystal Palace as one of their most dominant and vocal players, Guehi sits in the centre of a back three and has started the season really well.

Featuring in nine games for club and country so far this season, the 24-year-old is considered to be one of the biggest prospects in English football, and while Newcastle were unable to pry him away this summer, Liverpool could go one better if the right offer came in.

Centre-back at Liverpool – a neglected position?

Despite Jarrell Quansah’s call-up to Liverpool’s first-team last season, the Reds have looked a little light at the heart of defence.

Joel Matip was out with an ACL injury, and has subsequently left the club as a free agent, the club decided against replacing the fan-favourite servant who had spent eight years at the club.

While Joe Gomez lurks in the distance as a player who could possibly slot in at centre-back if required, he has not been at his best in that position for some time now.

The versatile defender was used as cover at left-back and right-back instead last season, although both of Liverpool’s primary understudies in those areas have now safely returned to full fitness.

As a result he remains a loose-end in Slot’s talented squad, which explains why the Reds had been exploring different opportunities to move him on last season.

Since Konate and Van Dijk are the preferred partnership, Jarrell Quansah has been benched – although the 21-year-old has been earmarked as a key player for the club in the next few years as he develops.

Nonetheless, with Matip’s absence likely to be felt as the season progresses, and van Dijk’s contract negotiations still unresolved, Liverpool are likely to be in the market for a centre-back and Geuhi looks to have the big-match mentality that Arne Slot desires.