Virgil van Dijk's former teammate picks out ideal replacement for Liverpool captain

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is retired of declaration astatine the extremity of the play but the Reds person been told who would beryllium the champion acceptable to regenerate the Dutch centre-back

Virgil van Dijk's erstwhile centre-back spouse Jose Fonte believes Newcastle's Sven Botman is the perfect campaigner to 1 time regenerate the Dutchman astatine Anfield

Fonte and Van Dijk formed an awesome concern astatine Southampton, helping the squad decorativeness sixth successful the Premier League nether Ronald Koeman successful 2016. Both were gone wrong 2 years, though, with Fonte leaving for West Ham earlier his chap centre-back joined Liverpool successful a £75million switch.

Van Dijk signed a declaration hold with Liverpool successful 2021, and became skipper aft Jordan Henderson near the club. His existent woody expires successful 2025, though, and helium volition beryllium capable to permission for thing if nary statement tin beryllium reached by the extremity of the season.

Fonte saw Van DIjk travel into his ain aft joining Southampton from Celtic successful 2015, and believes the Netherlands planetary has plentifulness of clip near astatine the top. If Liverpool extremity up needing a replacement, though, helium believes Botman could beryllium the answer.

"I’d emotion to spot Sven Botman regenerate Virgil van Dijk astatine Liverpool and I deliberation helium has the quality to bash it," Fonte told JeffBet. The Portugal planetary played with a young Botman astatine Lille arsenic they won Ligue 1 successful 2021, with the Dutchman moving to England the pursuing year.

"We won the league unneurotic successful France and similar Van Dijk, helium is simply a monster," Fonte added. "He is tall, precise bully successful duels, helium plays arsenic the near centre back, helium loves a tackle, he’s assertive and inactive young. I conscionable anticipation that helium tin proceed his advancement aft his wounded and enactment healthy, if helium does that past I’m definite he’ll beryllium considered by Liverpool."

Botman, 24, was a regular for Newcastle arsenic they finished 4th successful the Premier League successful the 2022-23 season. He suffered a cruciate ligament wounded successful March, though, and has yet to diagnostic this term.

Would Sven Botman beryllium a bully successor to Virgil van Dijk? Have your accidental successful the comments section

Van Dijk is the eldest of 3 Liverpool stars with contracts expiring astatine the extremity of the season. Questions stay implicit him, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Fonte - who is inactive playing astatine the property of 40 - believes his erstwhile workfellow is susceptible of doing the same.

"I’d backmost Virgil van Dijk to play into his 40s due to the fact that though helium inactive has pace, helium would beryllium capable to accommodate successful his positioning and expect the crippled adjacent amended arsenic years spell on," helium said. "If helium stays steadfast with nary injuries he’ll beryllium capable to play into his 40s, it’ll conscionable beryllium astir what helium wants to bash with his vocation due to the fact that it tin beryllium precise draining to play astatine the highest level.

"You person to enactment successful truthful overmuch enactment everyday. But physically helium is simply a monster, 1 of the champion specimens I've seen. As a centre backmost helium wins each his headers, wins each his duels fast, he’s bully connected the ball, he's a implicit player."

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