Nico Schlotterbeck of Germany looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Germany and Slovakia at Red Bull Arena on November 17, 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)placeholder image
Nico Schlotterbeck of Germany looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Germany and Slovakia at Red Bull Arena on November 17, 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool are looking to strengthen the defence, have they already found the perfect option?
There is no such thing as a done deal until the player is standing at Anfield with the red and white scarf above their head.
Fabrizio Romano claimed that Marc Guehi was going to be a Liverpool player and Antoine Semenyo was also reported to have agreed personal terms with The Reds, all Richard Hughes had to do was set up the payment terms for the Ghana international’s £65m release clause. Both players seemed certain to be lining up together in the same team, but what goes on behind the scenes, the devil and the detail, is never truly known other than by a few people involved in the negotiations.
Liverpool consider Marc Guehi alternatives
There is a long list of Guehi alternatives that Liverpool are said to be considering with availability, cost, timing, all factors in determining who Arne Slot might be given to strengthen his squad. With Ibrahima Konate refusing to put pen to paper on a new deal, it is little wonder that an experienced Premier League operator who has been capped at international level has been sounded out and intimated that he is keen to make the move to Anfield.
Jan Paul van Hecke is well known to observers of the Premier League and it isn’t a surprise to see his name linked with Liverpool, according to Football Insider.
With just 18-months of his Brighton contract to run, The Seagulls will be looking to cash in as the eight-times capped teammate of Virgil van Dijk looks for a new challenge. The 25-year old would be a perfect replacement for Konate and wouldn’t demand the £200,000 per week salary that the France international is claimed to want as a regular in the starting XI.
With Giovanni Leoni and reports suggesting that another young centre half in Joel Ordonez could be signed, having a ready-made partner for Van Dijk should be a priority for the Liverpool recruitment team and few are as risk free as Van Hecke.
Why Liverpool have Jan Paul van Hecke on their radar
Speaking about his international partnership with Van Dijk that Ronald Koeman has preferred since 2024, Van Hecke couldn’t have spoken higher about the Liverpool captain, via The Independent: “He’s really coaching a lot in the game,” Van Hecke details. “If he goes for a duel, you almost know he’s going to win it. It makes it a bit easier for me to play next to him.”
What makes Van Hecke and obvious target, is that, statistically, his profile is almost a perfect match for another high-profile target, Nicholas Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund. Using Data MB’s comparison tools, the pair measure up almost perfectly and, in a data led world of recruitment, it is easy to see why the Brighton stopper is on a shortlist.
Radar comparison image of Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke (blue) and Nico Schlotterbeck (pink) of Borussia Dortmund.placeholder image
Radar comparison image of Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke (blue) and Nico Schlotterbeck (pink) of Borussia Dortmund. | Data MB
What helps his cause is former Reds midfielder Deitmar Hamman explaining what type of player Schlotterbeck is: “He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now."
Change a few words and this description could be used to describe Van Hecke, no wonder he has been linked to Liverpool.
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