Virgil van Dijk's successor? Liverpool target classy Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are interested in Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck if Van Dijk does not extend his contract. The report adds the Reds are prepared to pay around €50 million (£42m/$54m) for the 24-year-old next summer.

Captain and talisman Van Dijk revealed that "discussions are ongoing" with Liverpool about a contract extension but added they "will see what happens in the future". Therefore, planning for a future without Van Dijk is a smart move. However, Newcastle United are also said to be interested in Schlotterbeck, whose contract runs until 2027.

Schlotterbeck began his career at Freiburg, before having a loan stint at Union Berlin, and then progressing to Dortmund in 2022. Last season, the German international had the highest tackling success rate in the Bundesliga at 71 per cent.

Aside from the transfer speculation, Schlotterbeck could feature for Dortmund away at Real Madrid in the Champions league on Tuesday whereas Van Dijk's Liverpool travel to RB Leipzig in the same competition a day later.