Christian Falk has suggested that Liverpool fans should “keep an eye” on Jonathan Tah as a potential replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
The 28-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender was a top target for Bayern Munich, but the German giants couldn’t meet Leverkusen’s €30m (£25.2m) asking price.
With Van Dijk’s contract expiring in 2025, Tah is emerging as a potential long-term successor at Anfield.
Falk explained that Liverpool are one of the clubs monitoring Tah’s situation, given the Dutchman’s advancing years and the need to plan for the future.
“But there’s another outfit to keep an eye on – Liverpool,” Falk wrote in his Fact Files column for Caught Offside.
“In the far-flung future, they will need a successor for Virgil van Dijk. Jonathan Tah could be that for Liverpool. They are also on the table at this time.
“I think the big advantage for Liverpool in the race for Tah is that the Premier League was always his big, big dream.
“There will always be rumours linking him with a move to Newcastle. However, if Liverpool were to knock on his door, there’s perhaps a big chance that he’ll be playing in the Premier League next season.”
Tah’s contract runs until the summer of 2025, meaning Liverpool could potentially secure him for free if they are willing to wait. However, there’s also the chance that a cut-price deal could be made before his contract expires.
Why Jonathan Tah is not the ideal Van Dijk replacement
Jonathan Tah. Credit: Imago Images
Despite the speculation surrounding Jonathan Tah as a potential successor to van Dijk, he may not be the perfect fit for Liverpool’s long-term defensive plans.
At 29 years old by the time van Dijk’s contract expires, Tah wouldn’t represent a significant age upgrade from Van Dijk, who is currently 32.
This presents a similar problem that Liverpool are already facing with van Dijk’s ageing profile. Ideally, the Reds should target a younger centre-back who could provide stability for many years rather than another short-term solution.
Just as they did with Ibrahima Konate, who has now replaced Joel Matip.
