Liverpool may have identified their long-term successor for Virgil van Dijk while the Reds captain’s future remains very much up in the air.
Arne Slot is reportedly keen on bringing in a young defender to settle into his squad, with Wolfsburg centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis rumoured to be at the top of their list.
The Greece international has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in Europe, according to reports in Germany. Standing at around 6ft 2, Koulierakis is a powerful defender who may relish the physicality of the Premier League.
Real Madrid and AC Milan have been credited an interest, in addition to a number of English clubs, with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal potentially in the market for a new centre-back. The Bundesliga club are determined to hang onto the youngster, but Bild report a fee of around £33.7million (€40m) could entice them into a sale.
Slot has stated his desire to keep his most important players at Anfield, but Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah will all be free to leave when their contracts expire on June 30.
Liverpool have shown their desire to keep Alexander-Arnold out of the clutches of Real Madrid, but the right-back has so far stalled over signing a new contract. Salah, meanwhile, has gone public with his wishes for a new long-term deal, but the Merseyside outfit are reluctant to offer the 33-year-old what he wants given his age.
Van Dijk’s situation is more mysterious, though, and the Dutchman clarified that he hasn’t made a decision on his future yet. His exit looks increasingly more likely with every day that he doesn’t sign a renewal, and Slot must plan for life without Van Dijk if he decides to depart.
The Netherlands international has exhibited some frustration with the distracting speculation about his future, admitting he is still in the dark over what the club are planning for him.
“The only thing I’m focusing on is the game ahead of me, and I’m feeling good,” Van Dijk replied when asked about his future earlier this month.
“I think everyone can see that, and what the future brings, at the moment, I’ve got no idea. So anyone who says they know it, they are absolutely wrong. But we’ll see what happens.”
There is no questioning his value to the club, with Van Dijk present for every single minute of their Premier League campaign so far. His leadership skills are crucial to organising the backline, while his partnership with Ibrahima Konate is arguably the strongest in the top flight.
But the appointment of sporting director Richard Hughes, a talented spotter for young players with world-class potential, could see the Reds move on from the Van Dijk and Salah era after their eight-year association.
Signing Koulierakis, who would have a familiar face in Kostas Tsimikas at the club, would represent a signal of Liverpool’s intentions to build for the future.
But with no bid in the pipeline yet and Van Dijk’s future still yet to be decided, the final months of the season could be crucial in determing what lies ahead for both players and the club.
