Liverpool are ‘prepared to bid up to £65m’ for a top Premier League defender who could be an alternative to Virgil van Dijk, according to reports.
Van Dijk, 33, is in the final year of his contract at Liverpool, which ends in June. However, he isn’t the only key player who could depart for free, as both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah also have contracts that could expire at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has remained quiet about his future amid ongoing speculation linking him to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Salah, 32, has been more open about his situation, admitting after Liverpool’s 5-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday that he has not made progress in contract talks.
Van Dijk has also expressed his desire to stay at Liverpool, sharing his affection for the club in an interview with The Times’ Paul Joyce. He said, “I love the club, the club loves me. I love the fans, the fans love me, and that creates a solid foundation for success. I believe I can play for another three or four years at the highest level. We’ll see what the future holds.”
Despite these positive statements from the Dutch defender, he has not yet signed a new deal, and like Salah and Alexander-Arnold, he could begin negotiating a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the transfer window opens on January 1, 2025.
If Van Dijk does depart, Liverpool could turn to Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, with reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes claiming that the club is preparing a significant £65m bid for the central defender.
Guehi, 24, has featured in 18 Premier League matches for Oliver Glasner’s team this season.
In the summer of 2024, Newcastle United made three offers for him, with the final bid reported to be around £55m upfront, plus a potential £5m in add-ons, according to BBC Sport.
The report also notes that Crystal Palace valued the defender at £70m, meaning Liverpool’s £65m offer may fall short of the Eagles’ expectations.
Earlier in December, Fichajes reported that Manchester United had Guehi on their radar as a potential defensive addition in the upcoming transfer window.
The England international’s contract with the London club runs until June 2026.
It remains uncertain whether Liverpool or Manchester United will make an official bid or if Palace would consider selling in the winter transfer window.
