Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match
Liverpool are in the process of finding a replacement for Virgil van Dijk, with the centre-back's contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Van Dijk has remained a key player for the Reds this season, starting all nine of their matches in the Premier League, and Redmen TV's Dan Clubbe last month suggested he deserved a new deal, saying: "He has been nothing short of exceptional. There were some question marks around his performances last season but he looks back to his best.
"The longevity and the class is there for all to see. He has become more and more of a leader. I had reservations about his captaincy because he is more of a reserved character than Jordan Henderson and leads by example, but he's proven me wrong."
Most recently, the skipper was given the nod in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Anfield, after which he expressed frustration that VAR didn't award a penalty for Jurrien Timber bringing down Alexander Isak in the penalty area.
It was a disappointing loss for Andoni Iraola's side, who had the opportunity to put the pressure on Arsenal with a victory, but Mikel Arteta's side are now setting the pace at the top of the Premier League table.
Regardless, Van Dijk put in a solid performance on a personal level, but with the 35-year-old's contract set to expire in just over six months time, a Premier League star has now been identified as a replacement.
Murillo named as top target for Liverpool
Nottingham Forest's Murillo applauds fans after the match
Nottingham Forest's Murillo applauds fans after the match
According to a report from Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest star Murillo has one of Liverpool's top targets, as their search for a Van Dijk replacement continues.
Indeed, the Reds are now exploring a move for the Brazilian, but it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, as the £75,000-a-week centre-back remains under contract until 2030 and is reportedly valued at around £70m.
As such, the Merseyside giants could end up making a move for an alternative target, with Borrussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and Barcelona’s Jules Kounde also of interest.
jules-kounde-barcelona
However, unlike the other targets, the Forest defender has already proven himself in England, making 102 appearances in the competition, and he has received high praise from teammate Morgan Gibbs-White.
The England international said: "He is an incredible player. He made a tackle against me on his first day in training and I felt his power so I didn’t want to go near him again."
Forest have endured a difficult start to the campaign, but Murillo has remained one of their key players, starting all nine Premier League matches, and an average of 5.7 clearances per 90 is the highest number in Oliver Glasner's squad.
Alexis Mac Allister for Liverpool-1
Alexis Mac Allister for Liverpool-1