Report: Liverpool eyeing up move for teenage defender who could be the next Virgil van Dijk
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The transfer window might be closed but Liverpool are still planning for their long-term future.
The Reds seemed to have built some sort of a super team this summer, with the record-breaking amount of money they have spent certainly going in the right areas.
If the standard of quality at the club was not already one of the highest in the league, it will be now, with Liverpool’s approach slightly changing in the transfer window compared to previous years.
Instead of finding the next gem or developing a decent player into a world-beater, they have largely signed ready-made stars who can make an instant impact.
However, there are still instances where they are clearly looking ahead and they are said to be eyeing up a move for a teenage centre-back who could just be the heir to Virgil van Dijk’s throne.
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The defence has been a bit of a troubled area for Liverpool throughout pre-season and the start of the Premier League campaign, with reinforcements high up on the agenda.
Marc Guehi would have been the final piece of the puzzle, but his failed move at the 11th hour means the Reds are probably still a little short.
It does not help that van Dijk, however good he may have been this season, is not getting any younger, hence why they are looking at some younger recruits too.
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Giovanni Leoni was one of these as he is tipped as one of the hottest young talents in world football, but despite the Italian said to be the Dutchman’s long-term replacement, Liverpool may have found another to compete.
According to TeamTalk, the Reds are one of a number of clubs keeping close tabs on Ajax’s academy star Arron Bouwman.
The 18-year-old is said to be another star coming out of their renowned youth setup, with the Dutchman making his debut in a 2-0 win for them in the league at the start of this season.
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The report states that Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Manchester City are all also circling, with the defender seen as someone ‘destined for stardom’.
Although it might not be a pressing matter right now to build for the future, it will almost certainly be in less than 12 months’ time.
Next summer, Ibrahima Konate is very likely to depart for Real Madrid as things stand, while Joe Gomez could also finally depart after two seasons of coming close.
That leaves just Leoni and van Dijk as recognised first-team options, something far from ideal given that the latter will be a 35-year-old with just one year left on his Anfield contract.
Not only does this prove that Guehi is needed, but perhaps even another younger defender too, making someone like Bouwman a good option.
If the Reds are not careful, this crisis at the back could become a big problem, so many contingency plans are going to be needed just in case.