Liverpool has got transfer priority wrong as Virgil van Dijk worry is clear for Arne Slot

Arne Slot has his feet under the table at Liverpool, and it won’t be long until he’s welcoming his new squad back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season.

As things stand, he won’t have any new additions to meet and greet next week, although there is still plenty of time this summer for that to be addressed. Still, the hunger for signings is growing among supporters.

There are a few obvious areas that could do with bolstering in the Reds’ squad. A new defender, a potential long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, and a new No. 6 should be among the priorities, as well as another goalkeeper if Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian are to depart.

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Slot reportedly has other ideas though. According to the ECHO, the new Liverpool head coach has had time to assess his squad and has come to the conclusion that a new center-back is not an immediate priority.

That’s despite the club’s pursuit of Leny Yoro, who appears to be waiting for Real Madrid. The 18-year-old is said to be regarded as separate to Liverpool’s expected transfer business. Regardless of the stance on Yoro though, the club should be looking at a new center-back as a priority for one simple reason - Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool captain is entering the final year on his contract at Anfield, and according to CaughtOffside, talks over a new deal have stalled. What’s more, it’s suggested that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will be meeting with Van Dijk’s representatives in the coming weeks as the Pro League eyes up its latest marquee signing.

Of course, with the defender currently representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024, it’s to be expected that contract talks won’t be at the front of his mind at the moment. Still, once he is ready to sit down at the table, Liverpool needs to have a clear plan for life with or without Van Dijk.

Even if he is to extend his stay at Anfield, Liverpool needs to plan ahead. Jarell Quansah is clearly going to be part of those plans, but Ibrahima Konate’s injury record means he’s a far from reliable option, even if he is among the world’s best when he is fit.

And with Van Dijk turning 33 in just over a week, Liverpool should know better than most that it can’t risk relying on a player closer to the end of his career than the start. The Reds have been burnt by that approach before – in fact, it sparked the midfield rebuild last year.

There have been signs this summer that Van Dijk might not be hitting the same heights as before. He showed during the 2023/24 campaign he can still be considered among the world’s best defenders, but he hasn’t been at his best at Euro 2024.

His performance against Austria on Tuesday led to some criticism from former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, as well as some harsh words from Dutch legend Rafael van der Vaart. If he were to produce the same for Liverpool next season, there could be some difficult questions for Slot to answer if he has indeed decided a new defender isn’t a priority.

He might well still be considering it, but it’s not a signing that should be left until later in the summer. The likes of Yoro and Riccardo Calafiori are clearly going to be in high demand, and Liverpool needs to strike soon rather than risk fighting it out for the scraps at the end of August.