Liverpool are already planning for life after Virgil van Dijk, with CaughtOffside saying two centre-backs have been picked out as the long-term answer. Dortmund captain Nico Schlotterbeck and Nottingham Forest‘s Murillo are the names on the list.
There’s uncertainty over the futures of both Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, so the club want a rebuild at the back lined up before they’re forced into one.
Schlotterbeck is a left-footed German international, 26, with a new deal at Dortmund that runs to 2031. That contract is said to carry a release clause of around €50m to €60m for selected clubs from summer 2027. If it doesn’t apply, Dortmund have been linked with valuations north of €70m.
Murillo is 24, proven in the Premier League and tied to Forest until 2030. Forest have no intention of selling him in January. They sold Elliot Anderson to Manchester City in the summer too, and Liverpool may have to pay a hefty premium to get Murillo out of the door.
Alessandro Bastoni at Inter and Jules Koundé at Barcelona are also admired. No formal offer has gone in for Schlotterbeck or Murillo. Liverpool are still scouting and working out what negotiations would look like.
Footiebuzz View
Schlotterbeck is the one. Left-footed, 26 and already a captain at Dortmund, he’d slot in next to Van Dijk straight away and still be there when Van Dijk has gone. Murillo is the awkward one. Forest aren’t selling in January and they’ll know Liverpool want him. If it’s a €50m to €60m clause in 2027 or a Forest premium, I’m taking the German.