The Reds captain graciously signed a two-year contract extension in April, keeping him at the club until 2027, when he was set to leave over the summer. He will be out just shy of his 36th birthday once his current contract expires.
It seems likely that the Dutchman, having played at Anfield for almost a decade, will make a final career move elsewhere, and a former Chelsea defender has already made a recommendation as to who can be trusted to fill the enormous boots of our number 4 when the time comes.
Boulahrouz calls Van Dijk’s ‘ideal successor’
Speak with ESPN.nlKhalid Boulahrouz identified Micky van de Ven as Van Dijk’s ‘ideal successor’ for the Netherlands, and possibly for Liverpool if they were to sign the Tottenham Hotspur centre-back.
The 43-year-old said of the Spurs player: “I think he is the ideal successor to Virgil van Dijk, both in the Dutch national team and at Liverpool. Liverpool is not crazy; if you are looking for a world-class left center defender and you have the money, you will quickly find Van de Ven.”
“He is physically strong and incredibly fast. Opponents know that, so they don’t even try to pass him anymore. He can still perform better on the ball and he makes the occasional blunder, but overall I think he is fantastic.”
Van Dijk had previously tried to entice Van de Ven to Liverpool
Spanish outlet Transfers had reported in recent weeks that Van de Ven was attracting admiring looks from Liverpool, but the 24-year-old is expected to sign a contract extension at Spurs, where he is considered ‘very happy’.
Van Dijk had tried to convince him to join the Reds two years ago, before the north London club made the move, and the former Wolfsburg man’s reputation has soared in England in that time.
He’s already netted six goals this season despite playing as a central defender (no less than LFC’s top scorer Hugo Ekitike), while his pace and ball control were on spectacular display with his stunning solo goal against FC Copenhagen earlier this month.
Van de Ven appears to be one of the few defenders in world football capable of adequately replacing Liverpool’s legendary captain in time, although the Anfield hierarchy would certainly have to use all their powers of persuasion to lure him away from Spurs.
We certainly wouldn’t say no to him at a later stage in L4, but for now we can still be grateful that the incomparable Van Dijk continues to lead by example for the Reds, and we should enjoy every moment we have left with him as our defensive hub.
You can watch Slot’s full post-Man City press conference via Kingdom of the Kop on YouTube:
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