6th April 2025 Craven Cottage, Fulham, London, England Premier League Football, Fulham versus Liverpool Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12771478 IanxStephen
Virgil van Dijk is a Liverpool icon, and his impending new contract will be good news for the Reds. The club remain committed to thinking about the future and want to bring in a young defender in the next transfer window who has been compared with the Dutchman in terms of talent.
Liverpool have big plans for the next transfer window while ensuring that Mo Salah and Van Dijk remain key pieces of the team as they look towards carrying out an evolution of the squad.
The Reds are looking to reconfigure their attack, but the club are also in the market for centre-backs and left-backs and are prepared to spend big to bring in the top talents.
Liverpool scouts believe that they have spotted another young talent in the Netherlands who could be compared with Van Dijk in terms of natural ability. The problem is that even Arsenal want him.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Liverpool eye ‘the next Virgil van Dijk’ in the Netherlands
Jorrel Hato is a left-back by nature, but has been resoundingly good at centre-back in some games, which has led to the comparisons with Van Dijk.
The 19-year-old defender has been linked with a move away from Ajax, and Arsenal have been firm admirers of the youngster since last summer.
However, Liverpool are also in the picture and a chance to reunite wth his hero and international teammate in Van Dijk at Anfield could be far too appealing for the young defender.
Journalist Graham Bailey has admitted that he could see the teenage defender joining a Premier League club in the summer.
“Zinchenko will be allowed to leave, although that will be easier said than done, considering his wages, and Tierney is going”, Bailey told TBR Football.
“Jorrel Hato is still a player they love – they’ve done all the work on him for years – they’ve been following him since he was 16. Liverpool like him as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hato came to England this year.
The Gunners remain well stocked at left-back with Calafiori and Lewis-Skelly, however, a move for Hato, who’s been valued at £40m, has not been ruled out.
“There still seems there’s still a place for Hato at Arsenal, despite Riccardo Calafiori arriving last summer. I wouldn’t rule Hato out of the equation.”
Van Dijk could lean in to convince Hato to move to Anfield if Liverpool make a concrete effort to sign him in the summer.
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