Virgil van Dijk is a generational defender and one in every of Liverpool’s best gamers in trendy historical past.
Nonetheless, he has been uncovered as a mediocre this season, with accidents to Liverpool’s protection and basic tactical issues below Arne Slott resulting in a much less profitable protection of the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s lead on the summit stays robust and the Reds should now struggle for Champions League qualification, in addition to silver medals in Europe’s elite membership competitors and the FA Cup.
Nonetheless, the likes of Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher are involved that the Anfield aspect stay wanting defensive change even after signing statements on deadline day.
How Liverpool are rebuilding their protection
Ibrahima Konate is out of contract on the finish of the season, however regardless of FSG’s finest efforts, an answer with the French centre-back is unlikely to be discovered.
Liverpool won’t obtain a switch price, however Konate has beforehand received prize cash for his position alongside Van Dijk in serving to them win final season’s Premier League title, so the return was important.
Konate shall be changed by his compatriot Jeremy Jaquet. He’s a 20-year-old who has simply accomplished a £60m transfer to Merseyside, with the Blues thought of to be front-runners for the Rennes star earlier than Liverpool beat Chelsea.
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Though Jaquet is a participant of the longer term, he’s additionally considered prepared for a Premier League position in 2026, together with his athleticism and fast-paced defensive fashion much like Konate’s, with the ball-playing vary that supervisor Van Dijk could be happy with as he enters the ultimate levels of his glittering journey at Liverpool subsequent 12 months.
The self-love of Liverpool’s protection has been a significant situation all season, however with Jacquet set to affix Giovanni Leoni within the ranks subsequent season, there’s a lot to sit up for.
After all, Leoni grew to become the forgotten man. {The teenager} ruptured his ACL on his debut in opposition to Southampton and isn’t anticipated to return till the early months of 2026/27. Nonetheless, the Italian is touted for his greatness and will type a long-term partnership with Jaquet.
League Format 25/26 – Jaquet vs Konate | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | backgammon | Solely these within the know know |
Match (begin) | 18(18) | 23(23) |
Purpose + Help | 0+0 | 1 + 0 |
clear sheet | 5 | 5 |
contact* | 71.0 | 75.0 |
Precise path* | 52.5 (91%) | 54.8 (89%) |
Alternatives created* | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Ball restoration price* | 4.2 | 2.8 |
Sort out + Interception* | 2.4 | 2.0 |
clearance* | 4.7 | 6.0 |
Win a floor duel* | 2.4 (61%) | 2.6 (65%) |
Win an air battle* | 2.1 (76%) | 3.8 (73%) |
error that occurred | 4 occasions | 4 occasions |
Information through Sofascore | ||
Nonetheless, FSG offered the Premier League aspect with even higher rearguard high quality. In reality, the younger defender signed final month may turn into simply as huge a star as any high-profile addition.
Liverpool signal Van Dijk-like defender
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been criticized for failing to deal with Liverpool’s defensive issues. And to be truthful, Slott solely wants an harm to Van Dijk or Konate to jeopardize the essential months forward.
This can be a potential situation that Liverpool might want to resolve internally, however Ifeanyi Ndukwe may assist change the mainstay sooner or later. He has been described by scout Jacek Krig as “one in every of Austria’s most enjoyable younger abilities” and has agreed a deal to affix Liverpool from Austria Vienna on the finish of the 2025/26 season for a price of practically £3 million.
The 17-year-old already has a wealth of expertise in his dwelling nation and has but to ascertain himself in Vienna’s first workforce, however that might change within the coming months forward of an enormous transfer.
Regardless of his error-filled performances, Konate has confirmed to be robust, even domineering, in duels this season, and with Jaquet being framed as a dueling-adept centre-half, a promising participant like Ndukwe might want to play A-game time within the academy for the following few years if he desires to take middle stage below Slott.
The wonderful thing about FSG’s good signing is that Ndukwe won’t be below any exterior stress to interrupt into the massive time any time quickly. Nearly all of Premier League followers, and doubtless many Liverpool supporters, nonetheless do not know the identify.
However Hughes and others consider it is going to occur quickly. In any case, it is a defender who led analyst Raj Chauhan to explain him as having a ‘Van Dijk vibe’, together with his burly physique and calm defensive method suggesting he has the right skillset to achieve the Premier League.
Already at 6ft 5in tall, Ndukwe will little doubt develop the aerial means that Van Dijk has cultivated through the years in England. His pace and passing add additional threads to a bow that appears tailored for Premier League soccer.
After all, he’s nonetheless growing bodily and maturing as a footballer, however Ndukwe has the potential to turn into a celebrity at Liverpool and is a reminder that the membership has secured a brand new profitable backline for the approaching years.
We are able to solely hope that current choices can maintain the ship from sinking within the coming months.
Liverpool are presently working across the clock to nominate a fill-in for the ‘genius’ slot
There could possibly be modifications to the Anfield dugout…
