Liverpool transfers: The four-man centre-back shortlist to replace Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has entered the final year of his Liverpool contract and is currently set to leave the club on a free transfer next summer with the club now making a shortlist of potential replacements.

Liverpool fans will hope the club can tie down their captain for an extension, but even if he is to stay, the 33-year-old Dutchman may need cover as a left centre-back. Van Dijk has started the season at his imperious best, and scored a brilliant header to put Liverpool ahead in their Champions League opener against AC Milan at San Siro.

Read more: Slot looking to land €80m star

There were rumours over the summer that Joe Gomez may leave the club, and with Jarell Quansah now also linked with potential moves away, Liverpool are apparently in the market for someone to come into that position.

Who is on Liverpool's centre-back shortlist?

TEAMtalk have revealed the four centre-backs Liverpool are targeting; Marc Guehi, Gleison Bremer, Goncalo Inacio and Loic Bade.

There have not been advanced talks for any of the four targets at this point, but Richard Hughes will be eager to prove his worth as Liverpool’s sporting director and signing a successor to Van Dijk would be significant progress.

Juventus’ Brazilian defender Bremer, is viewed as an ideal candidate by the club, but he would likely be an expensive option, contracted in Italy until 2029. Football Transfers have valued Bremer at €32.7m, but it is likely Juventus would demand at least double that to part with him, with Manchester United interested in signing him over the summer.

The report also says Slot is a big admirer of the 23-year-old Inacio, with the defender’s Sporting CP contract containing a €60m release clause. He views him as a good option if Van Dijk is to leave, but Liverpool will face a lot of competition if they proceed with the signing.

French centre-back Bade would likely cost around his €50m release clause, but Liverpool would be hoping to lower the fee. Reports came out earlier this week saying that he was happy at Sevilla and that’s why he had signed a new contract until 2029.

The final option would be the most expensive. Marc Guehi was brilliant for England at the Euros and was a major target for Newcastle over the summer. Crystal Palace placed a £75m price tag on Guehi for the window, and were unwilling to budge, rejecting a bid from Newcastle of £65m.

All four would provide genuine quality to the Liverpool backline, but Liverpool fans will be hoping that the Dutch centre-back renews regardless of signings.

They may be in luck too, Van Dijk

hinted whilst on international duty

that he would be open to a new deal at Liverpool.