He silenced Gakpo: Liverpool make contact to sign "fantastic" £40m defender
da bet esporte： As Virgil van Dijk continues to move closer and closer to the exit door, Liverpool have reportedly made a fresh approach over signing a defensive reinforcement worth just £40m this summer.
Liverpool eyeing defensive addition
da bet nacional： Now in March and into the final months of Van Dijk’s current deal, there’s every chance that the Dutchman will not be a Liverpool player next season, which should be ringing alarm bells for those at Anfield. Not only will they be losing one of the best defenders in Europe, they will be losing him for free to hand any potential suitor one of the bargains of the summer.
The Liverpool captain has been quick to reiterate that his future is not yet sealed, however, recently telling reporters: “I don’t know what’s gonna happen next season.
“If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face. Contract on hold? Nothing on hold. I keep saying same things. If there is news, you will know it. I don’t even know myself.”
That said, it seems as though the Reds are at least planning for life without the Dutchman if it does indeed come to that this summer. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool have now approached Chelsea about signing Levi Colwill this summer in a deal that would cost them just £40m.
Those at Anfield have a long-standing interest in the England international but have been unable to lure the Cobham graduate to Merseyside in the past. Now, in the face of Van Dijk’s potential exit, they have seemingly returned again in the hope of landing his signature.
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He’s a future star…
Still just 22 years old and battling for a top-four place at Chelsea, Colwill is yet to reach the peak of his powers despite already playing an impressive amount of top-level football – something that would have undoubtedly attracted Liverpool.
"Fantastic" Colwill previously pocketed Gakpo
Of course, Liverpool should be well aware of every strength and weakness that Colwill possesses, given that they’ve squared off against the central defender three times in the last three years. Coming against the 22-year-old at both Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, it was at The Amex that Colwill kept Cody Gakpo quiet during the 2022/23 campaign.
As the Seagulls won 3-0, Colwill limited the Liverpool star to 0.08 expected goals and just 25 touches in an impressive display. Now, over two years on, Gakpo could get the chance to breathe a sigh of relief and welcome Colwill as a teammate rather than a rival this summer.
However, whether Chelsea are willing to part ways with their academy graduate is another question. Colwill has often found himself at the centre of praise during his Stamford Bridge rise, including from Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Blues manager told reporters: “At the moment, I need to see him and get to know him better. He is a fantastic talent, of course. We were talking about the things that also the way that we can help improve his game in all areas.
“He is so relaxed, calm and I enjoy talking to him. He has great character and personality. I am so happy to have him in the squad and to have this opportunity to work together.”
