Liverpool have identified the duo to SUCCEED Van Dijk AND Mo Salah

Liverpool are in a precarious position with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

The pairing have been integral to Liverpool's success over the last few years, acting as leaders both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

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As such, the thought of losing them both to expiring contracts is nothing short of heartbreaking and the consequences of such a situation unfolding are too big to think about quite yet.

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Replacing the eight-season wonder in Salah who has scored around 20 goals a season since 2017 and the club captain who was just seven points off beating Lionel Messi to the Ballon D'Or in 2019 - good luck Richard Hughes and the recruitment team.

Of course, we don't yet have to grapple with the possibility that they might leave because until June 1, the duo are still Liverpool players, and negotiations will continue as the club tries to get them to sign contract extensions.

But knowing how grave the situation is, attempts are already being made to look to the future at how the pairing can be recreated and in Spain's Nations League clash last night, Liverpool fans got a glimpse of the next generations' Salah and Van Dijk.

Yamal and Huijsen combine to produce a magical display

Of course, Liverpool fans will recognise that Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is a player who is almost impossible for the club to attain.

The 17-year-old has burst onto the scene over the last two years, delivering seven goals and seven assists last season, and 13 goals and 16 assists this season so far for the Catalonian club, alongside winning the Euros with Spain last summer.

His value according to FootballTransfers.com is €174.3m, so while Liverpool might want him to replace Salah, that simply isn't happening.

But Dean Huijsen, however, is a young centre-back who the Reds are very much looking at as a possible recruit this summer.

The 19-year-old has £50m release clause at Bournemouth, and the current reports are suggesting that Liverpool are expected to make a move when the transfer window opens in the summer.

While he is still incredibly young, Huijsen has shown in the Premier League this campaign that he has all the attributes to perform at the highest level and so he is one of the frontrunners to replace Van Dijk full-time.

In Spain's match against Italy in the Nations League last night, the pair were on top form and one particular passage of play was very reminiscent of what Liverpool will have to recreate if Salah and Van Dijk depart.

With the ball at his feet, Huijsen dribbled out from his own penalty box, surveying the pitch in front of him before pinging a long ball over the top of the Dutch defence to Yamal, who took the ball down, cut inside and scored to give Spain a 3-2 lead.

It was exact replica of what Van Dijk does countless times each match to Salah at Liverpool week in and week out.

And the Reds' captain had a clear view of it in the Netherlands' defence.

Now, as mentioned before, Liverpool will not be getting Yamal anytime soon, other Salah replacements will need to be looked at.

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But if Huijsen can be attained, then he would be a dream creator for any wide player the club decides to place on that right hand side.

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