Liverpool identify Virgil van Dijk replacement with Richard Hughes leading chase: Reports

Liverpool have reportedly earmarked Sevilla centre-back Loic Bade as a potential replacement for club captain Virgil van Dijk, whose current contract is set to expire next June.

Bade, 24, has cemented himself as a key first-team starter for Sevilla since initially arriving from Stade Rennais on loan in January 2023. He has helped his team win the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League trophy so far.

Now, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.net, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has stepped up his interest in Bade in the recent past. He is of the opinion that the right-footed Frenchman could prove to be a perfect successor to Van Dijk in the near future.

However, Liverpool are unlikely to be unopposed in their pursuit of Bade as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen to sign the defender. Sevilla, on the other hand, are unwilling to entertain offers below the ex-RC Lens player's release clause of around £51 million.

Bade, who has a deal until June 2029 at his club, has scored two goals and laid out one assist in 63 games across all competitions for Sevilla.

Liverpool star backed to join Real Madrid

During a recent chat on talkSPORT, ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent was asked if Virgil van Dijk has aged too much to be deemed a starter now. He replied (h/t HITC):

"Not necessarily. The classic example we have just seen depart is Thiago Silva. He's 39 and look what he did in his last four years at Chelsea. I think Virgil could be exactly like that. At 39, to be playing in the Premier League for Thiago Silva, is incredible. Not only that, he won Chelsea's Player of the Year."

Showering special praise on the 33-year-old centre-back, Bent added:

"Virgil is exactly the same. He can read the game, as a centre-half, he can go beyond 35 and 36. He still has his pace and still reads the game. He still wants to defend one-v-one and two-v-two."

Asserting that Van Dijk could join Real Madrid next year, Bent opined:

"He is going straight to wherever he wants to go. That includes Real Madrid. Exactly [that tells you how important he is to Liverpool]. You are talking about one of the best defenders. There is an argument that he is the best defender in the Premier League and certainly one of the best in history."

Should he not sign a new deal at the Reds before the end of this year, Van Dijk would be eligible to sign for a foreign club on a free transfer.

So far, Van Dijk has found the back of the opposition net 23 times and recorded 12 assists in 273 matches across competitions for Liverpool.