A highly-rated defender is now one to watch for Liverpool during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim from reliable journalist Lewis Steele.
The Reds have now officially completed the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, marking one of their most significant pieces of business in years.
The German has arrived for a British transfer record of £116m, with many believing he will become one of the best players in the world in a Liverpool shirt, if he isn’t already.
At the other end of the pitch, the Reds may need a new centre-back, with Jarell Quansah likely to seal a summer move to Leverkusen.
Crystal Palace ace Marc Guehi has been linked with Liverpool, but speaking on YouTube, Steele said that RB Leipzig centre-back Castella Lukeba is “one to watch” for the Merseysiders.
He adds that the Premier League champions have “kept a close eye on him” and have had scouts present at “many” Leipzig games during the 2024/25 season. He is considered a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement, as is Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato.
Lukeba a young player with a huge future
It’s easy to see why Liverpool are watching Lukeba closely, with the Frenchman among the most exciting young central defenders in Europe currently.
The 22-year-old already has 72 appearances to his name for Leipzig, and also represented Lyon 68 times, while his one cap for France will surely be added to as the years pass.
Lukeba is a force in and out of possession, enjoying an 88.6% pass completion rate in the Champions League last season, as well as averaging three clearances per game across 23 Bundesliga matches, and analyst Ben Mattinson has lauded him, saying:
“Amongst the best U21 CB’s in Europe’s Top 5 leagues, Lukeba ranks 2nd highest in progressive runs. Statistically, eye-test, Lukeba passes all the tests. A very unique profile and one of the best defensive prospects in world football.”
As Steele alludes to in his update, Van Dijk isn’t going to be around forever, so it is imperative that they find the perfect successor to him.
The Dutchman is said to be a big admirer of Hato, so he is arguably the ideal choice, but Lukeba also stands out as a great option for Liverpool.