Liverpool to accelerate plans to sign ‘fantastic’ defender viewed as Virgil van Dijk’s successor

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The transfer window closes one week from today, with business so far slow for Liverpool during the January market.

Although the Reds have been rumoured with Joshua Kimmich and Stefan Bajcetic is now in talks to join Las Palmas on loan, all signs seem to point towards Liverpool ending the January transfer window with no new additions or any major departures.

With Liverpool keen to make four new signings this year, though, adding one or even two pieces to Arne Slot’s squad this month could go a long way in the Anfield side both going all the way in the Premier League title race as well as preparing the squad for next season.

Indeed, no new signings this January is the most likely outcome for Liverpool with one week remaining in the window, yet that could soon be about to change with an approach for one of Europe’s most exciting players.

Liverpool to bring forward plans to sign Jorrel Hato

According to TeamTalk, Liverpool are considering bringing forward plans to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato in the summer to this month, with the Reds weighing up a move for the Netherlands international as competition continues to grow for the versatile centre-back.

Praised by former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson as a ‘fantastic’ player via Ajax’s official website, Hato has been rumoured with a move to the Reds for quite some time, with the 18-year-old viewed as one of the most exciting teenagers in Europe.

Having made over 90 appearances already for Ajax’s first-team, the centre-back, who can also play at left-back, is on course to become one of the best defenders in world football with Liverpool now on hot on Hato’s tracks heading into the final week of the January window.

And with Virgil van Dijk yet to sign a new contract with Liverpool, plans to bring forward Hato could be a hint that the Anfield skipper might be ready to leave Merseyside at the end of his contract, with the Ajax defender already previously viewed as a successor to the 33-year-old.

READ MORE: Everything to know on Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk from his tattoo to net worth

Jorrel Hato already identified as Virgil van Dijk’s replacement

Replacing a player as big and important as Van Dijk feels like an impossible task for Liverpool, yet as the appointment of Slot last summer has shown, there is a perfect successor for anyone at the club if the right person can be found.

And Hato already being identified as Van Dijk’s successor at Liverpool seems to be an established fact already, with the 18-year-old defender seemingly the centre-back of Slot’s dreams and a player who could now be signed this January.

With the teenager also capable of playing at left-back, Hato’s signing could also help ease the burden for Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas in the position, two players Jamie Carragher has already urged Liverpool to replace this year.