Liverpool already regretting £41m Richard Hughes deal | OneFootball

Liverpool are reconstructing their centre-back line.

Last summer the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni for £26m from Parma. This week they announced the capture of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for a fee that could top £60m.

Other promising young defenders like Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe have also arrived - safeguarding the position long into the future.

The outgoing Premier League champions require numbers and quality in the position for several reasons.

Liverpool prepared to listen to offers for Van Dijk

Ibrahima Konate, 27, has joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. And other senior options - Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez - are out of contract in 2027.

Right now it is not expected that either will renew their terms and there could even be movement over BOTH this summer. Gomez, 29, has been on the radar for AC Milan and certain Premier League teams.

And while it would have naturally be assumed that Van Dijk was an immovable presence in the heart of the defence it now seems as though Richard Hughes is preparing to listen to offers for the Dutchman.

A report in TEAMtalk is claiming that Liverpool now REGRET giving Van Dijk a two-year contract extension in 2025 - worth a reported £400k per week - over £41m in wages alone.

LFC regret £41m Van Dijk extension

The Merseysiders endured a poor season - finishing fifth and costing Arne Slot his job as head coach.

Liverpool are not seeking to push the Netherlands captain out but would be willing to come to an agreement should the right proposal arrive.

“Liverpool no longer regard Virgil van Dijk as “untouchable,” the report reads.

“The Reds are prepared to assess any serious offers that arrive for their club captain.”

Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah both renewed their deals last year - costing just over £20m each in salary alone per season. Salah’s deal has already been ripped up - and he is currently a free agent.

“Those renewals are now viewed with some regret inside Anfield following the club’s disappointing campaign,” the report states.

“Not only is Van Dijk’s situation attracting major attention across Europe and beyond, but Liverpool are now open to any serious offers for his sale.”

AC Milan want dream Van Dijk deal

Teams mentioned as interested include AC Milan, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce - while the £75m man is also attracting attention from MLS and the Saudi Pro League.

“Neither the club nor the player would immediately dismiss the possibility of a transfer if a suitable proposal arrived,” the report reads.

“Instead, both parties are prepared to evaluate any serious offer on its merits before making a decision.”

It is perhaps understandable on one hand why this deal would be attractive from a Liverpool perspective.

They are beginning to bring the wage bill back under control - amid exits for Andy Robertson, Konate and Salah - and .

But on the other hand the experience within the squad has been hollowed out and the club could probably not afford to lose another leader - especially one as important as Van Dijk.