Jose Fonte thinks that defender of Newcastle Sven Botman would be a cunning long-term replacement for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman, 33, has been a Colossus since he came to Liverpool from Southampton in 2018 and is both the Premier League and the Champions League Glory with the Reds.
Van Dijk is, like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, at the end of the season. This has led to speculation during his future in the long term, although it is understood that conversations about a new deal are underway.
While Van Dijk was able to put the pen on paper to expand his stay in Anfield, his long-term successor will soon be in the agenda of the club- and Fonte believes that the answer can be directly under the nose of Liverpool.
In conversation with Boylesports, Fonte said: “Sven Botman really surprised me when I played next to him, he was so young but had a strong mentality and he continued to show that.
“He is in a very good club in Newcastle and comes back from an injury in the long term, he has shown how strong he is and I think he will still improve, if he is back to his best. He is. A left foot in the middle of which all managers are looking forward to, and although Virgil van Dijk is right, he plays on the left.
“Botman is so good at defending in duels and when he is on the ball, he makes good decisions, I think he would be a very good option to replace Van Dijk in Liverpool and he has the opportunity to do it. “
While Alexander-Arnold and Salah are linked to large movements, Van Dijk was not associated with so many large areas. Fonte, however, thinks that he would flourish in one of the leading lights of Europe.
He added: “Virgil van Dijk would thrive in Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich and I would not be shocked to see him in one of those clubs next season. Those clubs will be looking for defenders who are as reliable as Dijk and they will all look when he comes at the end of the season without signing a contract.
“He can still occur at the highest level and he has shown that he can take care of himself. He will have no problem going at the highest level for three or four years.
“Even if Van Dijk loses a little pace, he will not be slow. He will be even better in his positioning and his expectation. He is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the history of football.”
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