Dean Huijsen who? 5 centre-backs Liverpool could sign instead

Liverpool are facing a degree of uncertainty around the majority of their senior centre-back options. Happily, Virgil van Dijk has been secured to a new two-year contract - extending his terms until 2027.

But alongside him, other defenders have got their futures at the club shrouded in doubt.

READ MORE: Liverpool coach CONFIRMS star has rejected mega offer

First-choice partner Ibrahima Konate for example has a contract which expires in summer 2026. There has been no breakthrough over a new deal - with talks described as being at a standstill.

READ MORE: The evidence is stacking up - Is Trent Alexander-Arnold STAYING at Liverpool?

If the club and Konate cannot reach a resolution then it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he LEAVES this summer while his value remains high.

Joe Gomez - so long a capable servant for the Reds - might well have been sold last summer if a suitable bid materialised.

As it stood he remained at the club but has had a campaign to forget - both in terms of playing time and injuries. It isn’t inconceivable that he too moves on to get his career back on track.

And what about Jarell Quansah?

His rise to the first-team reckoning was stunning but he’s plateaued since signing his new contract earlier this season. There is plenty of interest from around the Premier League in the 22-year-old, who could earn the club a decent sum in the market.

If one or more of those defenders end up leaving then high-quality replacements and upgrades will be required. Liverpool have been linked with several over the last few weeks and months.

The biggest links have been established with Dean Huijsen - Bournemouth’s gifted 20-year-old. His £50m release clause is certainly attractive but with Real Madrid and Chelsea said to be in the running it’s not going to be easy to tempt him to Anfield.

Should the Reds miss out on the Spaniard, here are five other centre-backs we could see arrive at Liverpool this summer.

MURILLO

Links with Murillo have been well-established, with Liverpool taking a liking to the Nottingham Forest man ahead of the summer 2024 transfer window opening.

He’s had a superb season since then - and signed a new contract with the Tricky Trees - meaning his cost has spiralled upwards.

At 22, the Brazilian international could reign for decades and it could be the right idea to get close to the fee paid to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk back in 2018.

Forest would be inclined to do business at £70m plus.

LEVI COLWILL

Liverpool like Levi Colwill and have done for some time. He has previously scored high on the recruitment team’s checklist - leading to speculation that the Reds were going to steal in for the England international.

His future is pledged to Chelsea - until 2029 and with an option until 2023 - meaning any deal is likely to be prohibitively expensive.

Although the 22-year-old has been near ever-present for the Blues this season, there are some whispers that his status in the squad is under threat.

If Huijsen is acquired then his problems threaten to grow. The Reds may well take the chance to revisit an old target.

MICKY VAN DE VEN

This season has been a bit of a washout for the 24-year-old, who has only appeared 12 times in the league for Tottenham following an injury nightmare.

But these links are well established. Liverpool were in the run for the Dutch international back in 2023 before he swapped Wolfsburg for Spurs.

And Arne Slot is a confirmed fan too, attempting to sign the defender for AZ when he was coach and Van de Ven was at Volendam.

It would be a risk given his injury record but he’s well-known to Slot, the club and of course potential centre-back partner Van Dijk.

His agent has recently been angling for a move, with Spurs cut adrift in the Premier League and no chance of them returning to the Champions League any time soon.

CASTELLO LUKEBA

Reports in Germany suggest that Castello Lukeba is set for a MEGA summer transfer. The Frenchman looks set for the next step in his career, and he won’t go cheap.

Indeed it’s been speculated it could take as much as €75m to get his out of his current club.

The 22-year-old centre-back joined Leipzig from Lyon back in 2023 and has gone on to establish himself as a consistent defender in the Champions League and Bundesliga. He is under contract with Leipzig until 2029 having recently penned a contract extension.

MARC GUEHI

Tottenham attempted to snatch Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace right at the end of the January transfer window but failed with a £70m bid.

However, the England man has reportedly been assured by Palace that he can leave this summer with his contract expiring in 2026. Indeed his price has now DROPPED to £40m if reports are to be believed.

READ MORE: Liverpool FINALLY have their Steven Gerrard replacement

Proven, Premier League-quality defenders are going to be hard to come by at that price.