Manager Virgil van Dijk has said he wants Mohamed Salah to remain at Liverpool after returning from the African Cup of Nations, but what does the future hold for the Dutchman himself?
Months of speculation ended in April when Salah and then-captain finalized a contract extension. Trent Alexander-Arnold did not feature, but the world-class veteran will remain at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Of the two, Van Dijk feels more likely to remain on Merseyside for the duration of his £350,000-a-week contract. Salah’s future is clouded, and so is the club’s talisman after his post-match abuse against the Red Power, where Arne Slott left him on the bench as Liverpool collapsed and drew.
However, Van Dijk is 34 years old and hasn’t been his usual arrogant personality this season. It’s hard to name one of Europe’s elite centre-halves who is likely to thrive in Liverpool’s dysfunctional system this season, but there are a few who could have made a world of difference had they arrived over the summer.
Marc Gehi is a good example.
Latest updates on Liverpool’s interest in Guehi
Guehi was close to joining Liverpool during the summer. Pursued all off-season, Liverpool made the decision too late, with the Eagles unable to get a replacement and the deal falling apart at the 11th hour.
This is a player who could not only secure a starting spot in Liverpool’s side of the slot, but also replace Van Dijk.
The England international has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs over the past year, and given that his contract expires at the end of this season, FSG are looking to make a smart move on a free transfer this summer.
However, Liverpool’s defensive problems are serious. Ibrahima Konate has been miserable this season, while Guehi has been fantastic. Liverpool probably cannot wait until the end of this term to repair their battered backline.
However, Manchester City have increased their interest in the 25-year-old, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also among suitors.
It would be trivial for sporting director Richard Hughes to venture into the winter market without a second thought, and fortunately he has such a player on his doorstep.
Liverpool ‘enter market’ to sign Guehi replacement
According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Liverpool are “on the market” for Borussia Dortmund star Nico Schlotterbeck to replace Gehi, in case that doesn’t work out.
The 26-year-old is one of the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga and is entering the final 18 months of his contract at Signal Iduna Park, but Dortmund will seek £50m to let him go in mid-season.
Schlotterbeck is also wanted by Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern, so if Liverpool are really serious about bringing him to Anfield they may not want to hold out.
Why Schlotterbeck is perfect for Liverpool
Schlotterbeck has been on Liverpool’s radar for some time and given Van Dijk’s age and Konate’s form, bringing him to the Premier League in January might have been money well spent.
Described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as an “absolute beast” of a defender during his time at RB Leipzig, Schlotterbeck is tall, strong and purposeful on the ball. In fact, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs across Europe for pass attempts over the past year, top 1% for progressive passes, top 5% for assists and shot-creating actions, and top 9% for take-offs completed per 90 over the past year.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the completed pass into the opponent’s goal or into the penalty area.
This is a modern-day defender whose skills match what Slot needs to get his team going. Liverpool have had issues with their deep build-up this season and this needs to be addressed to improve balance and fluidity across the park.
We’ve already seen how Guehi compares favorably to Van Dijk, now let’s take a look at Schlotterbeck’s performance in the Bundesliga compared to Palace captain Schlotterbeck’s performance in the Premier League.
Schlotterbeck, who plays for the German national team, is even more mobile and competitive in the defensive phase, and while he is active, he maintains a sharpness in possession that does not compromise his ability to maintain possession.
Bundesliga 25/26 – Nico Schlotterbeck | |
|---|---|
Statistics (* per match) | # |
Match (start) | 10(10) |
the goal | 1 |
assist | 1 |
touch* | 82.0 |
Pass completed | 57.6 (88%) |
Key pass* | 0.3 |
Ball recovery rate* | 4.9 |
dribble* | 0.4 |
Tackle + Interception* | 3.4 |
clearance* | 4.5 |
Duel (win)* | 5.6 (66%) |
error that occurred | 0 |
Data via Sofascore | |
Perhaps most importantly, he hasn’t made a single mistake in the Bundesliga this season. Given the severity of Liverpool’s defensive mistakes throughout the season, a presence that plays the ball with such composure may be too much for a battered defence.
Would FSG want to pay £50m this winter? Almost none. But desperate situations call for desperate measures, and Liverpool need to sign a centre-back for the second half of the season.
If they choose not to do so, it could have a major impact on their Champions League qualification and their chances for silver medals in Europe’s elite club competition and the FA Cup.
This new tactical paradigm in the Premier League has inadvertently charmed Liverpool. Teams in the slot are susceptible to set pieces and directness of play, which was less common just a year or two ago. Similarly, they struggle to do attacking justice from corners and free kicks.
The 6-foot-3 Schlotterbeck will prove useful in forming the next version of the team in the slot. Guehi would also be a great pick, but this is a defender at the top of his game and who’s to say he won’t outdo the Three Lions star in next season’s Premier League?
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