The clock ticks down on Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk, as the latter’s advancing years put the Reds in a position where they need to find long-term answers regardless of the Dutchman’s current contract situation.
Thankfully, Liverpool are known to be shrewd operators and are already looking at potential new arrivals.
Liverpool interested in Bologna defender Sam Beukema
As reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool are interested in Bologna centre-back Sam Beukema for a summer move next year.
Having cut his teeth in the Eredivisie with stints at Go Ahead Eagles and AZ Alkmaar, the 26-year-old Dutchman has risen to prominence at Bologna with their rise to Champions League heights over the past year.
liverpool interested in bologna defender Sam Beukema.
The Rossoblù currently sit nine points off top four in the Serie A and are not expected to entertain any bids for Beukema in January.
Despite being currently valued by Transfermarkt at €18 million, Beukema will not be allowed to leave the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara for a fee less than £20 million, with his €900k-per-year contract set to run until June 2027.
No spring chickens
Regardless of whether they extend Virgil van Dijk’s contract or not, it is inevitable that Liverpool will need to find players to occupy his spot at some point.
Beukema shares more than nationality with Van Dijk. Like him, the Bologna defender is capable of playing both at the right and left side of central defence. Also, at 26, he is very much a late bloomer, much like Van Dijk before him, who was also 26 when he moved to Liverpool.
Slot’s interest in Beukema comes from his experience of watching him in the Netherlands. One can expect him to consider his compatriot a player who’ll be able to fit his system at Anfield seamlessly.
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