One of the issues facing Arne Slot – if as expected it is the Dutchman who takes over from Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool dugout – is what he does with some of the club’s long-serving but ageing talents?
Does he stand in Mo Salah‘s way, should the ‘Egyptian King’ opt to defect his throne and move into a new palace in Saudi Arabia? Does Slot feel that Andy Robertson, a veteran of so many trophies, should remain Liverpool’s first-choice left-back after an injury-hit campaign?
As for Virgil van Dijk, while the Dutchman is as totemic as ever, is it time Liverpool started planning for the future with his 33rd birthday just two months away?
HITC understands that Liverpool are looking at a number of left-sided centre-halves this summer. Centre-halves who, while maybe not displacing Van Dijk immediately, could do so later down the line, when the creep of Father Time starts to really take it’s toll.
Liverpool eyeing Virgil van Dijk successors
Piero Hincapie, a member of Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen side, saw his agent confirm Liverpool’s interest last summer and HITC understands that it remains still. There are also admirers at Anfield of Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and one of Slot’s Eredivisie champions David Hancko.
There is little to suggest that the Merseyside giants would consider a move for one Nikita Chernov, however, and that means the 28-year-old’s ‘dream’ of playing alongside Van Dijk in that iconic red shirt looks destined to go unfulfilled.
Chernov, speaking to Sport24, admits that his Liverpool ambitions are a little lofty. More likely, he feels, is a move to Serie A, La Liga or Ligue 1, perhaps following in the footsteps of fellow Russia international Aleksandr Golovin at Monaco.
“But it’s too late (to go to the Premier League). The level there is too high,” Chernov sighs. “Of course, I would like to play together with Van Dijk at Liverpool, my favourite English club. (But) it’s just a dream.
“If we talk about something at least a little real, then the Italian, Spanish or French championship. I talked to Golovin, he says that in France the guys run back and forth and don’t stop at all!”
David Hancko hopes boosted by Arne Slot arrival
Chernov, capped twice by Russia, joined Spartak Moscow from KS Samara at the start of 2022. Formerly of CSKA, he was part of the Spartak side which claimed the Russian Cup a couple of years ago.
But, if a dream move to Liverpool was unlikely enough already, Chernov is also a right-footer. Liverpool, despite Joel Matip’s expiring contract, appear to be prioritising defensive southpaws for the time being, with one of the players who is on their wishlist sharing Chernov’s love for the six-time European champions.
“I probably watch the English Premier League the most, so (moving there) would be my dream,” Slovakia international Hancko told Aktuality Sport. “And the club? My role model has always been (Manchester United legend) David Beckham, but I was most drawn to Liverpool.
“It started with the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, which my parents let me watch until the end. I didn’t have to go to bed even though there was extra time! And then (Slovakian icon) Martin Skrtel came.
“Since then, I’ve been a Liverpool fan.”
HITC have been told that, in addition to Hancko, Liverpool also like Feyenoord’s midfield duo Quinten Timber and Mats Wieffer.