Liverpool move for surprising Van Dijk successor: €50m offer on its way

Imre Himmelbauer

12 Mar 2025 09:00 GMT
2 min read

Virgil van Dijk, Nico Schlotterbeck — © IMAGO/FootballTransfers

Liverpool have lined up Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck to replace Virgil van Dijk in the summer, according to a report from Germany.

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Schlotterbeck has established himself as a key player at BVB this season, and the Bundesliga club have an ambition to extend his contract. But now there is very real doubt over whether he is open to that given that the Premier League leaders want him to replace Van Dijk, according to Bild.

The 25-year-old Germany international is under contract until June 2027 and earns around €5 million per year, putting him in the middle of Dortmund’s salary ranking. But BVB are prepared to make him a top earner as they see him as a new figurehead for the team and a potential replacement as captain for Emre Can.

Current ETV

Nico Schlotterbeck

V (C)

Dortmund

Nico Schlotterbeck

V (C)

Dortmund

ETV Range

€37.2M - €45.4M

Liverpool hunt Schlotterbeck

Schlotterbeck’s level have caught the eye of Liverpool, who are seeking a successor to Van Dijk, whose future remains unclear. The 33-year-old’s contract is winding down and it’s as yet uncertain what he will do next. Interest comes largely from Saudi Arabia, but he was also seen chatting to PSG officials for a long time after Tuesday’s Champions League clash.

Bild reports that the Reds are willing to pay up to €50m to take Schlotterbeck away from Dortmund. The centre-back’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €41.3m.

Liverpool’s hopes may hinge on whether Dortmund are playing European football next season – something that appears in the balance. If they are not, turning down such an offer will be difficult.

Dortmund are having an extremely difficult season and are in tenth place in the Bundesliga after 25 matches with 35 points. The gap to sixth place, which entitles them to play-offs for the Conference League, is four points. The gap to the first four places, which entitle them to direct qualification for the Champions League, is seven points.