
Liverpool are yet to tie down Virgil van Dijk to a new contract despite the club captain remaining one of the most important players in the team.
Arne Slot recently admitted that his compatriot is the true leader of the team, on and off the pitch, and remains the most important voice inside the dressing room.
Van Dijk has also been in pristine form this season and is one of the key reasons behind Liverpool’s impressive defensive record in the Premier League.
However, a cloud is hovering around his future at the club as he has yet to sign a new contract and has remained non-committal about doing so.
Liverpool want to keep their captain but are also preparing for his potential departure by looking at several centre-backs across Europe over the last few months.
The Reds have cast their net far and wide but are also keeping tabs on Premier League defenders who won’t need time to adjust to the pace of the league.
Liverpool put Premier League defender on their shortlist of targets
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is one of the players the club are interested but other players are being closely watched.
According to TEAMtalk, the Merseyside giants are seriously considering getting their hands on Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo.
Forest signed the Brazilian defender from Corinthians last year and he has made an impression in the Premier League.
His performances have been closely tracked and he is high on Liverpool’s shortlist of targets as they prepare for Van Dijk’s probable departure.
Liverpool intend to monitor him closely throughout the season before taking a call on whether to press ahead with an attempt to sign him next summer.
Can you name the team Liverpool signed these players from?
Chelsea are also interested in the centre-back but they are still working on which areas of the squad they will want to invest next summer.
The Reds have prioritised signing a centre-back at the end of the season and are much more forcefully tracking his progress at Forest this season.
They are unlikely to move for Murillo in January and even Forest are not expected to sell him in the middle of the season.
However, a big offer would likely force their hand next summer with the Brazilian believed to be keen on playing for one of the big boys of the Premier League.
