Liverpool dealt blow in pursuit of Virgil van Dijk replacement | OneFootball

Liverpool have been dealt a transfer blow with regard to their rumoured interest in Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck as a potential replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk is out of contract at the end of the season, recently confirming that he is yet to decide what will happen. Even if the Dutchman were to stay, at 34 in June he is well into the tail-end of his career and Liverpool would still need to be on the lookout for successors.

Schlotterbeck, a key part of the Dortmund side that reached last season's Champions League and a regular starter for Germany in recent months, had been identified as one such option.

The 25-year-old will shortly enter the last two seasons of his current Dortmund contract and it has been reported that Liverpool would be willing to pay in excess of €50m (£42m) for him.

However, Schlotterbeck's future could yet go several ways. Sky Sport Germany reporters have revealed Dortmund's desire to make him a potential future captain and the face of the club. There is a wish to double his current salary, estimated at €5m-€6m per season, although talks are currently on hold given Dortmund's struggles to even get into the top half of the Bundesliga table.

If Dortmund fail to qualify for European football next season, which would only be the second time that has happened in the last 15 years, a transfer hasn't been ruled out and "clubs" – which means more than just Liverpool – "keep showing interest". But Schlotterbeck himself is also still open to staying Dortmund even in the event that they fail to make it to Europe for 2025/26.

Marc Guehi and Dean Huijsen could be Premier League-proven alternative options for Liverpool, while David Hancko is already someone Arne Slot knows well from his time at Feyenoord.