Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk is now in the final year of his contract with the club. The Dutch center-back has been a standout performer for Liverpool during their successful era under former manager Jürgen Klopp. Van Dijk’s arrival was pivotal for Liverpool, significantly raising the team’s overall performance.
With his contract set to expire next year and no renewal agreement in place, Liverpool is preparing for a future without him. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Liverpool has pinpointed Sevilla defender Lioc Bade as a potential replacement. Bade, who has a release clause of £50.6m (€60m), is a target for the Merseyside club, who are prepared to activate the clause next year.
However, Liverpool will face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in their pursuit of the defender. The report suggests that Liverpool views him as a strong candidate to succeed Van Dijk.
In the 2022/23 season, the defender was loaned to Nottingham Forest but did not make any appearances for the Premier League club. The 24-year-old French defender has caught the attention of Arne Slot’s team due to his ‘solidity and youth.’
Bade, who played a key role in France’s silver medal win at the Olympics this summer with four clean sheets in five matches, has enjoyed a successful stint at Sevilla, contributing to their Europa League triumph. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will pursue their interest in him.
Replacing Van Dijk will be a significant challenge, and Bade will need to handle the pressure of playing for a bigger club in a more competitive league.
However, he will be eager to prove himself in England after his unsuccessful period at Nottingham.
