Top targets rocks Liverpool with £200k per week contract demands

It’s no secret that Liverpool are discussing the signing of a major centre-back this summer.

There is uncertainty in the central defensive sector - with Ibrahima Konate’s contract still unsigned. Furthermore we could see Joe Gomez sold since his contract expires in 2027.

And with Virgil van Dijk out of contract next summer Arne Slot will soon require a seasoned, left-sided centre-back.

Although Jeremy Jacquet has been signed - and Giovanni Leoni will be coming back from injury - it would be risky to ask two inexperienced defenders to carry the load next season.

That’s why links with the likes of Marcos Senesi, Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck make sense - even if there are no guarantees that any of those would arrive.

Van de Ven a Liverpool target

The Premier League champions may however have a better chance of landing Micky van de Ven from Tottenham - especially if the North London club end up in the Championship.

Talks are planned between the 25-year-old Dutch international and his employers at the end of the season. And a report in Caught Offside claims that Manchester United and Liverpool are both ready to sign the former Wolfsburg man.

“Van de Ven will meet with Tottenham at the end of the season, whether they stay up or not,” the report reads.

“For now his full focus is on keeping them in the Premier League, but he’ll be aware that clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United are interested, and that could put pressure on Tottenham.”

Van de Ven is well known to Arne Slot - who tried to sign him twice previously in his career before.

Slot made efforts to bring the left-footed defender to AZ and Feyenoord during his days in the Eredivisie but Van de Ven struck out for Wolfsburg before signing for Spurs in 2023.

Van de Ven wants £200k per week

A deal won’t come cheap however with Van de Ven valued by his club at between £60m and £80m according to the report.

Furthermore the Dutch international will be seeking up to £200k per week in wages - around the same money that Konate is reportedly asking for in renewal talks.

“Both the Reds and the Red Devils are exploring the market for central defenders this summer, and Van de Ven is understood to feature on their lists after his strong form during his time in England, combined with the fact that he might be available if THFC get relegated,” the report reads.

“It could cost anywhere between £60-80m to prise Van de Ven out of Tottenham this summer, while his wage demands are also high – possibly as much as £200,000 per week.”

The report also adds that Van de Ven is on the shopping list of both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid - so Liverpool really will have their work cut out in doing a deal for the speedy central defender.

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