Liverpool vs Brighton: Could Luka Vušković be Van Dijk's ideal successor?
Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sell Luka Vušković in the summer raised eyebrows.
The 19-year-old was already regarded as one of Europe's most promising defensive prospects, and an outstanding season on loan at Hamburg only strengthened that reputation. Vušković was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season after helping Hamburg consolidate following promotion.
Perhaps seeking the regular first-team role that was not guaranteed in north London, Vušković joined Brighton in a club-record £46m deal. Jan Paul van Hecke moved in the opposite direction for £52m, with the two clubs effectively trading centre-backs.
Brighton appear to have got the better deal. Vušković has played a central role in the Seagulls' impressive start to the season, which has propelled them into the Champions League places. Brighton sit third ahead of this afternoon's clash with Liverpool, having won four consecutive league games without conceding.
Vušković has been integral to that success, and speculation over his future is already gathering pace. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea have all been linked with the Croatian, as have today's opponents, Liverpool.
The Liverpool connection is particularly intriguing. Virgil van Dijk's contract expires next summer, when the captain will turn 36. The Dutchman has been imperious for almost a decade at Anfield, but time waits for no man.
Could Vušković be his ideal successor?
The Croatian may lack the pace that made Van Dijk such a formidable opponent at his peak, but there are clear similarities between the pair. Most notably, both offer a commanding presence in the air. Vušković leads the Premier League for aerial duels won this season and ranks second for aerial battles contested.
Last season, he finished fourth in the Bundesliga for aerial duels won and ranked third for interceptions. He also scored six league goals, underlining his threat at both ends of the pitch.
Vušković has also shown an impressive range of passing. While the sample size remains small, only one centre-back has completed more long passes in the Premier League this season, and the Croatian ranks among the top five for long-pass completion rate.
That ability to find teammates over distance could be particularly valuable at Liverpool. Van Dijk has long been a key part of the Reds' build-up play, regularly bypassing opposition pressure with diagonal passes into wide areas. His ability to switch play quickly has helped Liverpool exploit space on the flanks, and Vušković has shown early signs that he could offer a similar option.
There are areas of Vušković's game that still need work, but that is hardly surprising for a 19-year-old adjusting to a new league. His numbers for defensive duels won and ball-carrying suggest room for improvement, although both are areas in which Jeremy Jacquet has excelled.
Jacquet joined from Rennes last summer and has hit the ground running, leaving Liverpool with a question over who will become his long-term centre-back partner. The club also have high hopes for Giovanni Leoni, but the Italian is working his way back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that disrupted his debut season.
Brighton will believe Vušković's development is best served on the south coast, and his impressive adaptation suggests he may feel the same. For now, the Seagulls have little reason to rush him towards the exit.
However, if his performances continue at this level, speculation over a move to a European heavyweight is unlikely to disappear. A long-term contract means Brighton are under no pressure to sell cheaply, but Liverpool have shown they are willing to invest heavily in long-term solutions.
Their world-record £75m deal for Van Dijk raised eyebrows in 2018. Few would question that investment now. Vušković is nowhere near as proven as Van Dijk was at that stage, but his potential makes him an intriguing option for Liverpool — if they decide the time is right to invest in a successor.
