Richard Hughes can't afford to ignore red flags in Van Dijk replacement

Fabrizio Romano set the rumour mill into overdrive earlier this week with a post on X concerning a long-term Liverpool transfer target.

The Italian transfer market expert stated that Arthur Theate, the Eintracht Frankfurt defender, was once again on the radar of Premier League teams.

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While Romano did not mention Liverpool specifically, the Reds have been linked with the Belgium international over the past couple of years. And, given his profile, he could provide a two-for-one solution to a couple of impending problems for head coach Arne Slot.

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Virgil van Dijk is out of contract in summer 2025 and so far no breakthrough has been reached in talks over a new deal. Several left-sided central defenders have been associated with Anfield moves in recent weeks - including Nico Schlotterbeck and Jorrel Hato - and Theate certainly falls into that category.

Moreover, the former Oostende standout is a versatile player - lining up as the left-sided partner in a back four, in the centre or the left side of a back three as well as at left-back.

Arthur Theate linked with Liverpool

With Andy Robertson coming to the end of the line with the Merseysiders, the club have been named as suitors for plenty of left-backs including Milos Kerkez.

If Theate arrived then there would be the potential of having him cover both positions, lessening the need for multiple arrivals. This season he has played most of his football at centre-back for Dino Toppmoller’s side but has also featured on the left.

He is a key asset for Frankfurt with the Bundesliga side making an initial loan deal permanent in February having struck an agreement with Rennes.

It was back in 2023 when Theate, now 24, initially joined French Ligue 1 side Rennes when Liverpool were first mooted as contenders for his signature.

The Reds opted against making a deal with Theate instead becoming the most expensive Belgian defender of all time as part of a €20 million deal which took him to France.

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He had originally joined Rennes from Bologna, who signed him on a one-year loan deal from Oostende in 2021 before converting it to a permanent move in the summer of 2022.

Theate currently has a contract until 2029 with Frankfurt, joining them for around €16m, meaning any potential deal Liverpool do for him won’t be cheap.

But is this a fight Liverpool need to get involved in?

How does Theate compare to Van Dijk?

Theate has been highly regarded previously but is not currently on the level to star in Liverpool’s first team and certainly not as a Van Dijk successor. Simply put, his numbers this season do not stack up for someone tipped to replace the best centre-back in the world.

He’s got an overall pass completion rate of 84.3 percent this season, compared to Van Dijk’s 91.7 percent. Moreover, the 33-year-old has a far higher volume of passes; 2353 vs 1412 according to FBREF.

And the one string to his passing bow - his long pass completion rate - is way down from his 2022/23 peak with Rennes when it reached 72.7 percent. This season it’s down at 56.5 percent. Van Dijk’s is 67.4 percent.

Theate’s tackle completion rate doesn’t compare favourably either. He’s won 48.6 percent of his tackles attempted whereas VVD has got a 55.6 percent success rate.

Overall Theate has made 62 combined tackles and interceptions comparing to 81 for Van Dijk. He’s had 128 clearances so far this season and Van Dijk has had 151.

Arthur Theate's FATAL flaw

Theate was also previously renowned for his ball-carrying abilities. This season he has made 1015 ball carries, according to FBREF, for a total of 4851 yards carried. Van Dijk, meanwhile, has made 1501 carries for a total of 7303 yards carried.

There isn’t any significant metric where Theate can measure up but the fatal flaw comes in his aerial duels.

Neither Van Dijk nor Ibrahima Konate are the continent’s best at winning their fair share of aerial duels, it must be said. Van Dijk’s 70.4 win percentage in aerial duels is good enough for 34th place in the overall top-five league table for this season. Konate’s is better; he’s won 72.4, which puts him in the top 20.

Theate? He’s won 52.8 percent of his aerial duels so far this season. That is simply not good enough. And if you’re looking for a benchmark, that’s Yann Aurel Bisseck of Inter Milan with a total of 77.3 percent.

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While Theate might be tempting as a buy-one-get-two offer - considering his characteristics - this one is probably a race that Richard Hughes and Arne Slot should sit out.