Virgil van Dijk’s impressive presence means Liverpool have managed to ignore clear transfer needs over the past five years. The Dutchman has established himself as Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice left-back since Liverpool settled at Southampton in 2018.
Van Dijk started at left back for Liverpool when he was fit and able. He made 164 Premier League appearances but never came on as a substitute. He has always been a pillar of strength as one of Europe’s best defenders, but Klopp, now 32, needs a break every now and then.
Liverpool are interested in signing a new left-footed centre-back this summer, ideally left-footed, as all of Klopp’s options favor right-footed players. With the exception of Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez on the right, United have a very distinct gap. Liverpool is not the same. But for many years, the decrease of Van DJJ was unprecedented. Because it is often fulfilled by those who are received diagonally by the captain, including reddish in red. The Dutchman deserves everything but no deal has been done despite Liverpool knowing he needs support.
The Anfield club have linked a number of players for the role this summer, including Chelsea Colville and Sporting Lisbon’s Gonzalo Inacio, who decided to sign new contracts at Stamford Bridge last month. With the deadline on Thursday and the English summer transfer window closing at 11pm, Liverpool will enter the transfer window late. Athletic said there had been talk of a “look” but that it could ultimately be a matter of a “window to the future”. But on Sunday afternoon, Van Dijk reminded Klopp at the right moment that this was not enough as his side ran out of options on the left. A costly mistake came in the 28th minute as United clashed with Newcastle United on Tyneside. The ball went against Thun striker Alexander Isak, and Van Dijk saved the Swedish national team’s goal.
