Liverpool learn of €10 million discount for Virgil van Dijk successor
Liverpool’s defensive rebuild is underway, and looks set to continue this summer.
Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez all arrived last summer, with a deal announced in February that will see Jeremy Jacquet join the Reds before next season too.
The foundations are in place for the next generation of Arne Slot’s defence, but there is still work to be done.
As things stand, Ibrahima Konate will leave Anfield for free at the end of the season, and both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have been subject to transfer speculation as they approach the final 12 months of their deals.
Now, Liverpool have received an update on the availability of a long-time target, and Arne Slot will be delighted.
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Long-time Liverpool target available at €10 million discount
The Reds’ recruitment team will have an extensive list of potential options for Slot’s backline, and one of the names that has been on that list for a while is Castello Lukeba.
The Frenchman plays for RB Leipzig, and Liverpool have been monitoring him for quite some time.
Transfer insider Florian Plettenberg has now offered an update on Lukeba’s situation on X.
The update claims that the 23-year-old is open to a move this summer, with several top clubs interested, and that the defender could be available for around €70 million (~£60m) despite an €80 million release clause being present in his contract.
With several top clubs interested that price tag could well rise, but Liverpool’s recruitment team will be delighted to hear Lukeba could be available for less than his release clause this summer.
The 23-year-old's quality is clear to see to anyone who has watched him, but what makes Lukeba somewhat unique compared to many of the Reds’ reported targets is that he prefers to use his left foot.
Both Leoni and Jacquet are right-footed, although they are capable of playing on the left side of a pairing, but Lukeba’s natural left-footedness makes him a more suitable heir to Van Dijk’s position in Slot’s side.
If Liverpool are serious about putting together one of the best defences in Europe, Lukeba would be a great addition and could well end up as Van Dijk’s successor at Anfield.
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