With Arne Slot’s appointment as Liverpool’s new head coach all-but confirmed, talk is already turning to what the Dutchman’s arrival could mean for a couple of Jurgen Klopp’s most trusted lieutenants.
Are Liverpool ripe for an overhaul? Of a shift away from those modern-day legends, and towards a new squad and a new cast of heroes?
Or should Arne Slot beware the cautionary tale that was Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, the Red Devils shipping out their most experienced players and ending up with a squad lacking in leaders and personality?
The future of Virgil van Dijk, in particular, is causing much debate over in the Netherlands. Marco van Basten, the three-time Ballon D’Or winner, believes that Van Dijk not only has plenty still to offer, but can even reach an even greater level under a coach who’s penchant for improving individual players was the driving force behind Feyenoord’s Eredivisie title-winning campaign in 2022/23.
Arne Slot has decision to make about Liverpool heroes
“I think he is really capable. I am also very curious, because I think he will be a good influence on Van Dijk,” Van Basten tells Rondo. “I’m very curious about that.
“When I see how those (Feyenoord) players have done under Slot and how much better they have become, constructively and offensively, then I think (Van Dijk) will benefit from that.”
Unlike Mo Salah, who’s form his dipped alarmingly since the turn of the year, Van Dijk appears as consistent and as reliable as ever even as his 33rd birthday approaches.
The one-time Heerenveen, Sparta Rotterdam and PSV Eindhoven winger Rene van der Gijp is not quite as steadfast as Van Basten, however, in his belief that Van Dijk can play a major role in the Slot regime, urging Liverpool to put the plans in place for a rejuvenation of an ageing spine.
Liverpool eye Feyenoord’s David Hancko
“I think it would be best for Slot to slowly replace guys like Salah and Van Dijk,” Van der Gijp tells Vandaag Inside amid claims that Borussia Dortmund are keen on the latter and Saudi Arabian clubs are continuing to pursue the former.
“I read that Dortmund would be interested in Van Dijk instead of (Mats) Hummels. Salah should also just leave. A move to the desert makes sense. That would be the best thing for him.
“He has performed incredibly, year in, year out. Now, things are slowly starting to deteriorate. That is not easy. Your ego is affected, (and) you fall down the pecking order.”
HITC understands that Liverpool are looking at a number of left-sided centre-halves capable of operating as a long-term Van Dijk replacement. One of those, the £25 million-rated David Hancko, currently plays under the Anfield-bound Slot at Feyenoord, and has made no secret of the fact that he is a ‘Liverpool fan’.