Liverpool ready to sign €100m Virgil van Dijk replacement

Virgil van Dijk has entered the final year of his current contract at Liverpool.

The Reds' captain has been a defensive colossus for almost a decade in Merseyside, but his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

It wouldn't come as a surprise to see the Reds extend their captain, but planning has begun in case a deal can't be reached.

Liverpool's recruitment team will have drawn up an extensive list of potential replacements, but one target is causing plenty of discussion ahead of what could be a €100 million move.

That would be a world-record fee for a defender, something which would be fitting to replace Van Dijk.

Luka Vuskovic has been one of the most exciting players in the Premier League this season, and a massive part of Brighton's early season success.

The Seagulls look like a genuine contender for Champions League football, and Vuskovic has been a standout performer.

As a result of the teenager's displays, he has earned himself a spot high on Liverpool's shortlist to replace Van Dijk, and they are willing to break the bank.

That's according to a report from Ekrem Konur, which claims that the Reds are serious about signing the Croatian, and wouldn't have any problem paying Brighton's €100 million (~£83m) asking price.

Josko Gvardiol is currently the world's most expensive defender, costing €90 million (~£77.6 million), but his international teammate could take that mantle in the summer.

The report states that the recruitment team at Anfield believe the 19-year-old could be the long-term replacement for Van Dijk, and it is frightening to think about how dominant a partnership with Jeremy Jacquet could be for the next decade.

Brighton are reportedly realistic about having to sell Vuskovic in the summer, and work could begin on a deal long before the window actually opens.