Exclusive: ‘World-class’ defender similar to Virgil van Dijk is ready to join Liverpool

A potentially world-class defender who has shades of Virgil van Dijk is ready to join Liverpool.

Fortunately, Richard Hughes doesn't have to think about replacing the colossal Dutchman this summer. Van Dijk is about to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club for the next two years.

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Hughes has done his job and he's got the deal over the line, something that was one of his priorities when he first arrived as a sporting director last year.

But sooner or later, Hughes has to think about the future as well. Van Dijk is not infallible, he will decline as the years progress and ravage his body.

Eventually, there will come a time when his reign at Anfield will be over and someone else will have to come in to take his throne.

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And this summer could signal the emergence of that successor with Liverpool eyeing an exciting player, who has been tipped to become a world-class talent.

Why Jorrel Hato is ready to replace Van Dijk

Anfield Watch spoke exclusively to FCUpdate journalist and content creator Jorn Aalders about all things when it comes to Dutch football and Liverpool on our YouTube channel.

During the conversation, Aalders was asked about potential Dutch players Liverpool could target and the conversation naturally gravitated towards Jorrel Hato, who has been linked with a move to the Reds and recently even visited Anfield earlier this year.

"He can be an option. He's a really big talent. Not entirely similar to Van Dijk but he has his body. He has a good technique. He's strong and he's extremely fast, so he has any weapons to improve in the Premier League, I think," Aalders said.

"He's so young. He's still 19 but already he is the first choice option in the Netherlands for the left-back position and he's one of the best players in that squad."

"For me, more important is that last season, when Ajax had a worse season. Hato was still playing really well that season and he was even the captain," Aalders continued.

"So everyone looks up to him and he fights for the team. He could be your leader, your new captain. So I think, it is a really good option for Liverpool.

"The only thing I was discussing about this subject this morning with one of my colleagues maybe he has the same thing as Gravenberch.

"You need to give him time. I'm not sure if, if you sign him, he players every game next season. But in the future Hato is a world class player."

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This will be music to Liverpool supporters' ears. Liverpool will obviously have to practise a level of patience with Hato but it's obvious that he's already a standout performer in the Eredivisie and for the Dutch national team, with shades of Van Dijk about him as well, he's definitely ready to join Arne Slot at Anfield.