Even if Van Dijk stays, he will turn 34 in July, so it would be wise for Liverpool to begin planning for the long term and prepare for a successor.
Liverpool is reportedly willing to pay close to €60m (£50.4m) for Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund, as a move to the Premier League is considered a strong possibility. Van Dijk has expressed interest in finishing his career outside of England, with the United States being his preferred destination. This follows reports that Schlotterbeck is among the potential replacements for Van Dijk.
While Liverpool would ideally want Van Dijk to stay for a couple more years, Schlotterbeck, at 25, could be a great long-term option. He has almost 200 senior appearances and a promising future ahead. Despite Dortmund’s recent defeat, Schlotterbeck stood out by winning six duels and completing all his dribbles, along with impressive passing stats. His all-around game has placed him in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe for progressive passes and among the top 10% for assists, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, and successful take-ons.
If Liverpool can land Schlotterbeck for around £50m, he could either be a strong partner for Van Dijk or an excellent successor, depending on what happens with the captain’s contract.
