Liverpool have began getting ready for all times after Virgil van Dijk, in case the Dutchman does depart Anfield in the summertime.
Van Dijk is out of contract on the finish of the season, however regardless of stating that progress has been made on a signing a brand new deal after Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham on Sunday, nothing is confirmed simply but.
“There’s progress, yeah,” Van Dijk stated . “I do not know [if I’ll stay], we’ll see. Hear, these are inside discussions and we’ll see. I really like the membership, I really like the followers and so they had been there for us once more and we wished to reward them.”
Liverpool lining up Virgil van Dijk substitute
The Dutchman has been imperious this time period (Picture credit score: Carl Recine/Getty Pictures)
The Reds are in an analogous difficult state of affairs with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold , with the membership’s hierarchy potential replacements in case any of the trio depart in the summertime.
Since arriving at Liverpool for £75m in January 2018, Van Dijk has cemented himself as one in all the perfect centre-backs in Premier League historical past. The 2024/25 season has heralded a return to world-class type for the 33-year-old as nicely, so that they’ll want an analogous high quality of participant to interchange him if he does determine to name time on his Liverpool profession.
Slot will want some reinforcements at Anfield (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Based on Relevo , Liverpool are focused on signing Ronald Araujo from Barcelona , with the Uruguayan seen as the right participant to fill Van Dijk’s sneakers at Anfield.
In January, following discussions with Juventus, Araujo signed a brand new six-year deal that may preserve him at Barcelona till 2031, however experiences recommend that the 26-year-old can depart Barcelona for €65m earlier than July 15. Liverpool, due to this fact, should act rapidly to safe his companies, or danger that price skyrocketing to astronomical costs.
Barcelona count on the centre-back to nonetheless be on the membership subsequent time period, however a robust sufficient supply may definitely tempt Araujo into leaving.
A hamstring damage restricted Araujo’s sport time at Barcelona at first of the season, and since his return to motion in January he has thus far didn’t pressure his method into Hansi Flick’s beginning XI on a constant foundation, with Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi all competing for a spot at centre-back.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo (Picture credit score: Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA by way of Getty Pictures)
In FourFourTwo ‘s view, Araujo can be a wonderful signing for Liverpool, however whether or not it occurs or not is one other story. He has the temperament, technical potential and physicality to each play for Arne Slot’s facet and compete within the Premier League, however the Reds would possibly favor spending their cash elsewhere depening on the futures of Alexander-Arnold and Salah as nicely.
Araujo is valued at €50m by Transfermarkt .