5 realistic replacements for Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool | OneFootball

There will come a point, and it may well arrive very soon, when Liverpool must go about replacing the irreplaceable.

Virgil van Dijk's situation on Merseyside remains ambiguous, and there's certainly a chance the dominant Dutch defender opts against extending his stay at Anfield, allowing him to depart as a free agent in June.

Van Dijk's status as an all-time Premier League great isn't up for debate. There have been multiple factors in Liverpool's re-emergence over the past decade, and the centre-back's arrival doubtlessly ranks among the most significant.

Even if the 33-year-old extends, the Reds are bound to be in the centre-back market this summer. Van Dijk remains at the top of his game, but long-term mitigation is necessary.

Here are five realistic replacements for the Liverpool captain this summer.

1. Marc Guehi

Guehi is wanted by several Premier League clubs / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Crystal Palace are on the up again with Oliver Glasner at the helm, but they look set to lose their captain this summer. Guehi will have his pick of several Premier League clubs, and Liverpool are among those poised to make a move. The former Chelsea defender has garnered an impressive reputation at Selhurst Park, developing into one of England's very best defenders. His work at Euro 2024 showed that he's capable of performing on the biggest of occasions, having proven his consistency over several campaigns in south London.Guehi is an astute reader of the game who, like Van Dijk, prefers to line up on the left side of defence despite being right-footed. He loves a switch of play and is more than capable of performing in an aggressive defensive line. The 24-year-old is years away from his prime, yet he's swiftly developed into a wise and mature leader of men.

2. Dean Huijsen

Huijsen has caught Liverpool's eye / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Allowing Huijsen to depart for less than £13m looks like another genius bit of business from Juventus. Anyone who caught a glimpse of the teenager on loan at Roma last season knew Bournemouth were robbing the Bianconeri blind.The Spanish defender has been one of the breakout stars this season, with Huijsen benefitting from Marcos Senesi's long-term injury setback which allowed him to develop a stellar partnership with the similarly impressive Illia Zabarnyi. Very rarely does Huijsen's nonchalance drift into arrogance, with the defender's care-free attitude refusing to undermine the sound fundamentals which lay the foundations for a broad skill set. Huijsen is unique, there's no doubt about that, but he's a defender first and is poised to mature into something majestic. It'll cost Liverpool £50m to prise him away from the Cherries after just a single season on the south coast.

3. David Hancko

The Feyenoord defender could be on the move this summer / Alessandro Sabattini/GettyImages

Liverpool won't be restricting their search to the familiar realm of the Premier League, although much of their shrewdest business in recent years has been conducted between domestic rivals. If the Reds venture further afield, expect Feyenoord's David Hancko to be a name of intrigue. Like Huijsen, the Slovenian international is incredibly fun to watch. He's a marauder from centre-back, often driving out of defence in a bid to affect proceedings further upfield. He combines with precision, and is an imperious force when carrying the ball. Hancko has taken the armband in Quinten Timber's absence this season, and has plenty of experience at the highest level with Feyenoord returning to the Champions League in recent years. Arne Slot is also well aware of Hancko's talent having signed the 27-year-old from Sparta Prague in 2022 ahead of their Eredivisie title triumph.

4. Nico Schlotterbeck

Borussia Dortmund won't want to lose Schlotterbeck / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages

An elegant left-footed defender who'll supply plenty to Liverpool's build-up, Schlotterbeck is among the Reds' reported centre-back targets.The German international has been a bright spark for BVB amid a torrid domestic campaign, and the Bundesliga outfit are keen to build around the 25-year-old for the long haul.There's talk of a new contract and Schlotterback has also been tipped for captaincy. Thus, Liverpool may have to put in some work to convince the defender, who played a key role in the club's ascent to the Champions League final last season and only seems to be growing as a player. The 6'3 left-footer is a versatile operator who's metronomic in possession and has shown himself to be an adept recovery defender despite athletic shortcomings. His future may depend on what European competition, if any, Dortmund are competing in next season.

Inacio has previously been on Liverpool's shortlist / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

Inacio has emerged into somewhat of a transfer window protagonist in recent times, yet the defender has never come close to departing Sporting CP. In February, the centre-back recorded his 200th appearance for the Portuguese giants at 23-years-old. Liverpool have been tenuously linked with a move in the past, and it wouldn't be a surprise if there's a re-emergence of interest this summer. Sporting have faltered in the wake of Ruben Amorim's exit, but Inacio has remained a reliable figure on the left side of their ever-changing defence. Like those listed above him, Inacio is excellent with the ball at his feet. Very rarely is he flustered and he possesses a Van Dijk-like ability to ping the ball from one box to the other. He's precise when he goes long, but metronomic when he needs to be over shorter distances, too. There are similarities to Aymeric Laporte in possession, and Inacio's goal-scoring threat can't be ignored either. He's recording a goal contribution every four games in the Primeira Liga this season and has scored five times in all competitions. Buzz surrounding Inacio has faded somewhat, but the 23-year-old remains a huge talent with potential to blossom in the Premier League.