Arne Slot has now commented on Liverpool’s plan for life after Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman is Liverpool’s most expensive January signing and has been a stalwart in their backline since he joined from Southampton.
However, Van Dijk is now 34 and has less than 18 months left on his contract with the Reds.
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Alisson before Marseille vs Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
Credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu/Getty Images
Now, in his pre-Manchester City press conference, Arne Slot was asked about Liverpool making signings for when the Dutchman leaves.
As per Lewis Steele, he said: “We are not stupid. We know somewhere in the upcoming years there is life without Virgil.”
Liverpool signed a player ‘as good as’ Virgil van Dijk before Jeremy Jacquet
Liverpool have improved their long-term centre-back options a great deal in the last month or so.
17-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe will link up with the club after 2025/26, while 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye also arrived in January and is now part of the youth system.
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More recently, Liverpool paid Rennes £60m for Jeremy Jacquet, who, like Ndukwe, will move to England in the summer of 2026.
However, while Jacquet may be a great signing for the future, Liverpool signed a player just like the Rennes ace long before his arrival.
The man in question is Giovanni Leoni, who made the move to Anfield in the summer of 2025.
Martin Semmens, who signed Leoni for Parma in 2024, had high praise for the stopper in September, as per Liverpool.com.
He said: “Five or six Premier League teams asked me [about Leoni]. I told them he’s as good as Virgil [van Dijk].
“Liverpool never called me, never asked for a reference, because they’ve got such an ability to find those players. Top player.”
With so many injury issues this year and the arrival of Jacquet, it’s easy to forget what a top talent Leoni is.
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Van Dijk (2027), Gomez (2027) and Konate (2026) are all out of contract soon!
Virgil van Dijk applauds supporters after Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield.
Credit: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
When is Giovanni Leoni back from injury
In reality, there may be a scenario in which no more signings are required to replace Van Dijk when he leaves at the end of his contract, or later down the line if he pens an extension.
Leoni is one of the brightest young stoppers in Europe; he just had a difficult start to life at Liverpool.
The 19-year-old played 81 minutes of a Carabao Cup meeting with Southampton in September but has been sidelined since, with Slot previously saying ‘he is not in a good place because he tore his ACL, which means he will be out for a year’.
However, when he’s back, Jamie Redknapp has already suggested Liverpool will look to Leoni as a long-term successor to Van Dijk.
He said in September 2025: “Virgil is now what, 33, 34? He’s still playing at a very high level, but Leoni is certainly one they will be looking forward to in a few years.”
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