Ronald Araujo will bolster the Liverpool defense alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni talents for the future, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe impressing this summer
Virgil van Dijk has offered his opinion
Virgil van Dijk has offered his opinion(Image: Stan Sport)
With Ronald Araujo on the way and several young center-backs coming through at Liverpool, it will be part of Virgil van Dijk's job to help nurture them as best he can.
Araujo, of course, is an experienced head and is coming in from Barcelona, but he might take some time to adapt to the Premier League. In the cases of Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, recovering from injury is the first priority, before they will hope to join Ifeanyi Ndukwe in showing exactly why they have been brought in.
Liverpool was looking light in numbers at the back until news of the move for Araujo emerged. Ndukwe, as good as he has looked in the last few weeks, does not have a work permit and will head out on loan.
"Obviously, I saw the games in preseason in America," Van Dijk told reporters at Anfield after playing alongside the 18-year-old for 45 minutes against Monaco.
"Big talent, big guy and he wants to learn. I had a brief conversation with him, especially in the last couple of days. For him, it is just progressing. I know he has to go on loan I think so let’s see where he ends up.
"I don’t know exactly what the rules are, but the matter of fact is that he has to go on loan and wherever he goes, he needs to learn, get better and be ready when he comes back to hopefully stay there."
Virgil van Dijk looks on during Liverpool 2-3 Monaco
Virgil van Dijk looks on during Liverpool 2-3 Monaco(Image: Lewis Storey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Leoni has only played around an hour for Liverpool because he sustained an ACL injury on his debut last September. Jacquet, meanwhile, is yet to feature in pre-season after arriving for around $83 million (£60 million).
"I've not seen any of (Jacquet)," Van Dijk said. "I've spoken to him. I've seen him walking around and we have conversations. I can't wait to see him back on the pitch and I hope that happens very, very soon. I'm not a doctor, so I don't know exactly the situation, but I have a feeling this week he could be back on the pitch, and hopefully as soon as possible."
And with Joe Gomez having been struck down with an issue that will keep him out beyond the start of the new season, Araujo coming in is a major boost to the number of options that Andoni Iraola has available.
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"Any player that will arrive to the club, we will be welcoming," Van Dijk said. "I have no idea if it has been announced, or I have not seen him, so let’s see.
"Let’s see what the next couple of weeks are going to bring. Any quality we can add to the team will definitely be welcome, so let’s see."
In addition to being close to sealing a deal for Araujo, Liverpool is also looking to bolster its forward line with Bradley Barcola being chased and Ibrahim Mbaye under consideration. Summer arrival Victor Munoz also made his debut on Sunday.
On Munoz, Van Dijk added: "He is very fast and it has been good to see the kind of quality he can bring to the club, and I think he had a great reception. It is just for him to carry that on to the next."