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3 Players Who Could Follow Van Dijk To Liverpool Including His Fellow Countryman

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By Paul Hughes

Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk

Two Players Who Could Follow Van Dijk To Liverpool

Liverpool fans are currently in seventh heaven during this festive period of the season since grabbing a massive 5-0 win over bottom-placed Swansea City. The signing of long-term target Virgil Van Dijk for a club-record fee of £75million is signifying the intent as well as the willingness of the management to establish the Reds as title contenders.

The transfer window is yet to open officially and the Merseysiders have already drawn an end to the long-lasting Van Dijk saga by making him the world’s costliest defender ever. Southampton are set to receive a huge chunk of money that will help them to bring in new recruits in order to fix up the disastrous inception of the 2017-18 season.  Liverpool, on the other hand, were in desperate need to strengthen their backline but Klopp opted to wait for his prime transfer target and successfully struck the deal midway through the campaign.

The Reds, meanwhile, are looking set to lose a couple of key performers in the summer in the form of Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho. Can’s entourage has failed to agree to terms with us, and so he is likely to move out and complete a Bosman transfer amidst interest from Juventus.

Coutinho, Liverpool’s little magician, was forced to stay put despite offers from Barcelona and the club is expected to stand in his way once again if the Catalans return with an ambitious bid next summer. The Reds will have RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita next season, having completed a deal already for the Guinean international but a few more names might join the Reds in January to complete an immediate switch.

Stefan De Vrij

Age: 25

Current Club: SS Lazio.

Country: Netherlands

De Vrij’s current contract with the Serie A outfit is set to expire next summer and Liverpool’s defensive frailty might force them to bring in Van Dijk’s compatriot next month. The Dutchman had a troublesome past with injuries but seems to have recovered fully and is performing persistently in the heart of Lazio defence. Although the Serie A side are firm on keeping hold of their prized asset, they might allow him to leave on a cut-price deal in winter rather than losing the centre-back for free six months later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkwhFWcEGZs

Thomas Lemar

Age: 22

Current Club: AS Monaco

Country: France

Winter is not the proper period of time to clinch significant transfer deals, but the Reds will be confident following their successful pursuit of Van Dijk and might chase another previous transfer target, Thomas Lemar, who backed out from joining Arsenal in the summer, despite the Gunners meeting AS Monaco’s £90million asking fee.

Although the reigning Ligue 1 champions are reluctant to let their top talent depart in the winter, an interest from Liverpool will certainly be considered due to the player’s willingness to join the Reds. The French international is being viewed as a long-term replacement of Philippe Coutinho for his versatility up front and acquiring him in January will help the youngster to settle down in new surroundings prior to the next campaign where he might have a huge task of continuing Coutinho’s legacy at the Merseyside, if the Brazilian departs in the summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6u0nhRaA4

Leon Goretzka

Age: 22

Current Club: FC Schalke 04

Country: Germany

Leon Goretzka of FC Schalke 04 is another player whose contract will expire in the summer and the German international will be an apt replacement for the departing Emre Can. But the youngster is reportedly being monitored by a host of top European outfits including Liverpool and it is to be seen now whether Jurgen Klopp can convince the midfield sensation to sign pre-contract terms next month.