Liverpool Plan for Life After Van Dijk as 2027 Contract Exit Looms
Liverpool are preparing for a major defensive transition as Virgil van Dijk approaches the final season of his contract, with the Dutch captain set to become a free agent after the 2026-27 campaign.
Van Dijk will be 35 when his existing deal ends and no extension is presently being pursued. His eventual departure will close a nine-year spell at Anfield in which he established himself as one of the defining centre-backs of the modern Liverpool era, winning both the Premier League and Champions League.
Andoni Iraola already has several options in and around his defensive group, but replacing Van Dijk’s authority and consistency will be a considerable task. Jeremy Jacquet has adapted swiftly since arriving from Rennes in a high-value transfer, while 19-year-old Italian Giovanni Leoni remains on the way back from an ACL injury.
Ronald Araujo has also joined on loan from Barcelona. The former Barça captain has largely been used at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong yet to establish himself in a more traditional defensive role after his move from Bayer Leverkusen. Araujo, however, has spent much of his career as a central defender and could become a candidate for a permanent move next summer.
Araujo’s future remains open
Danny Murphy believes Liverpool will judge Araujo over a longer period before deciding whether he can have a central role in their post-Van Dijk plans.
“They will be looking at Araujo every match and every week,” Murphy said. “I do not think they will immediately see him as Van Dijk’s replacement, especially because of his age. Liverpool will keep their options open and continue to look at the market.”
A permanent deal for the 27-year-old Uruguayan could allow him to return to the middle of the defence, while creating room for Liverpool to recruit another specialist right-back. But Murphy sees the wider full-back situation as a more urgent concern.
Full-back output under scrutiny
Liverpool’s strongest sides have often relied on full-backs capable of supplying attacking quality, supported by midfielders who could cover when they advanced. Murphy argued that the current balance has not reached that level.
He said the modern game frequently leaves space on the flanks because opponents crowd central areas, meaning Liverpool’s full-backs receive significant possession. In his view, neither Frimpong nor Milos Kerkez has yet produced the quality required in the final third, while their defensive work has not compensated for that shortfall.
“Their end product is not at the standard Liverpool need,” Murphy said. “There is also the question of whether they are strong enough defensively to make up for the lack of attacking quality, and I do not think they are. So far, both have struggled in their Liverpool careers.”
Murphy added that Frimpong deserves some consideration because his best season at Leverkusen came in a different role. The Dutchman was more accustomed to wing-back duties than the conventional right-back responsibilities he has been asked to undertake in England.
Araujo has looked more natural when defending from the right, although Murphy does not regard him as the type of overlapping full-back who will consistently provide crosses and assists. The Uruguayan did, however, set up Dominik Szoboszlai with an inventive flick against Atletico.
Kerkez has shown signs of greater reliability on the left in recent matches as Liverpool have begun 2026-27 unbeaten, but the position remains an area likely to require reinforcement. Murphy believes Liverpool could even consider action during the January 2027 window.
Any winter business will depend on the funds available after Liverpool spent £123 million ($165m) on French winger Bradley Barcola shortly before the summer transfer deadline. With Van Dijk’s exit approaching, the club are expected to have identified defensive targets capable of raising the level of Iraola’s squad.
