Mourinho's former target and Forest's surprise: Liverpool open the file on Van Dijk's successor

Other options on the table from Barcelona and Inter

Liverpool are stepping up plans to rebuild their defence as part of a long-term project, with the futures of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez clouded in uncertainty.

The Reds want defenders who can cope with the physical demands of the Premier League, build attacks from the back and cover spaces, all while slotting neatly into a possession-based system.

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Schlotterbeck leads the way: options on Liverpool's list of targets

Nico Schlotterbeck remains one of the leading candidates to bolster Liverpool's defence, despite signing a new deal with Borussia Dortmund earlier this year.

Real Madrid chased the German last summer, before he tore an ankle ligament at the 2026 World Cup.

Liverpool are casting a wide net. Nottingham Forest's Murillo has caught their eye, as have Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and Barcelona's Jules Koundé.

No official bid has landed for Schlotterbeck or Murillo just yet. The Reds are still at the stage of monitoring both players, analysing their performances and weighing up the conditions needed to get a deal over the line down the line. Schlotterbeck's contract at Dortmund runs until 2031 and, according to reports, carries a release clause of between 50 and 60 million euros, one that specific clubs can trigger from the summer of 2027.

Away from those terms, estimates suggest Dortmund could demand more than 70 million euros to let their German defender go.

Schlotterbeck has grown into one of Dortmund's key leaders. He drives the ball forward, picks out passes from the back, bullies attackers in challenges and dominates in the air.

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Murillo a candidate to replace Van Dijk... but!

Murillo, according to a report by CaughtOffside, offers Liverpool a different kind of option, though no less appealing. The 24-year-old Brazilian already knows the Premier League, and he stands out for his recovery pace, his strength in one-on-one duels and his composure on the ball, whether passing it or carrying it forward.

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Both the Brazilian and Schlotterbeck fit Liverpool's recruitment strategy, but each brings something different.

Technically, Schlotterbeck looks the closest fit to succeed Van Dijk. He relies on his left foot, breaks opposition lines with his passing and has grown into a leader during his time at Dortmund.

At 26, the German is edging towards the peak years of his career. He needs no lengthy bedding-in period.

Murillo, by contrast, has already adapted to the demands of the Premier League, sparing Liverpool the gamble over whether he can handle the speed, physicality and high tempo of the competition.

That pace would prove hugely useful in a defensive system that asks both centre-backs to push high up the pitch and leave space behind them.

The real obstacle is money. Nottingham Forest are under no financial pressure to sell one of their key men, especially after banking a huge fee from Elliot Anderson's summer move to Manchester City. Murillo's strong contract situation could therefore force Liverpool into an eye-watering offer to prise him away.

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