The 24-year-old Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo confessed he regularly keeps a close eye on the performances of Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking to the Atheltic, the Uruguayan international admitted that he enjoys watching football a lot off the field. Araujo said that he frequently finds himself studying Van Dijk to observe the Liverpool star’s defending technique and movements.
Many people believe that Van Dijk is one of the top defenders in the world and that he is undoubtedly the most gifted player to have ever represented Liverpool in the Premier League. And the influence the 31-year-old has had over the past few seasons at Anfield has now extended well beyond Merseyside.
The Barcelona star revealed that he continuously tries to study the best techniques from the center-back’s performances and incorporate them into his own game. Araujo is another player who has reportedly been pleased with Van Dijk’s exploits for Liverpool.
According to Araujo, “I watch a variety of players and try to learn from everyone of them. Van Dijk is doing it right now. The defenders for Manchester City are also performing well this year. I examine each player’s moves and ball-moving technique in an effort to learn.
Araujo’s Van Dijk remarks shouldn’t really come as a surprise.
Since joining Liverpool, Van Dijk has consistently been the best defender in the Premier League, so the fact that top-tier center backs like Araujo are still keeping an eye on the former Southampton star shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Despite what some commentators and Liverpool fans may believe, the Liverpool behemoth is not slowing down or losing any of his quality, and with players like Araujo still keeping an eye on Van Dijk, the center-back’s reputation as one of the greatest in Europe is still very much intact.
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Six more players might leave Liverpool during the summer transfer window, and two players are no longer assured starting roles.
After a disappointing season, Liverpool is preparing for a bit of a rebuild this summer in the transfer market.
Liverpool is rapidly reaching a crucial summer of rebuilding.
The focus now is on what the club will do when the transfer market opens later this month now that new sports director Jorg Schmadtke has joined the team to start what is currently a short-term contract with the Reds.
Even though there has been increased talk that Manchester United is winning the race to sign Mason Mount, Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton remains a top priority.
Despite Liverpool’s lack of interest in Sporting’s Manuel Ugarte, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone and OGC Nice’s Kephren Thruam have both been mentioned this week.
The Reds are eager to wrap up their business as soon as possible since they have a crucial preseason time coming up next month. Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich is another player who is being looked at by people who matter at Liverpool.
As a result of the departures of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, and Arthur Melo, Liverpool has lost five players from the team from the previous season. However, there are still some players inside the ranks whose futures are also up for debate.
Alisson Becker
One of the few performers whose standards remained unwavering last season. The goalkeeper is not one of the many team-related concerns Liverpool needs to address this summer. The international player from Brazil will soon join the club’s all-time greats in oblivion.
Trent Alexander Arnold
The April tactical change, which basically allows him to play as a midfielder when Liverpool have control, revitalized the West Derby-born defender. Although he is not moving, contract negotiations would be helpful because his present terms are set to expire in 2025.
Ibrahima Kanote
The France international was limited to just 11 Premier League games last season as a result of injuries that plagued him for the majority of the campaign. A long, unbroken summer should aid moving forward on that front. He is essential to the overall objective.
Virgil Van Dijk
Although Van Dijk wasn’t always in imperious form last season, his excellent play did occasionally go unnoticed. a crucial member of the team that went 11 games unbeaten in the campaign’s last two months. will be crucial for Liverpool if they want to continue winning championships under Jurgen Klopp.
Andy Robertson
has recently, oddly, been connected to a move to Real Madrid. Although it would be a great shock to see the Scotland skipper leave, the Spanish team is apparently preparing a bid of about £40 million. At 29, she is still a crucial member of the group.
Fabinho
The toughest test of Fabinho’s Liverpool career will come next season as Klopp prepares to make significant changes in the midfield. Many have begun to doubt his long-term fit due to a considerable drop in performance, but it would be surprising to see the Brazilian leave, even though he might not be a surefire starter moving ahead.
Jordan Henderson
Another player whose “starting” status is likely to face significant scrutiny. If the Reds complete the type of transaction they are anxious to, the Liverpool skipper will likely be utilized less frequently in the upcoming season. will nevertheless contribute even if he doesn’t make more than 40 outings.
Thiago Alcantara
The former Barcelona player’s contract expires in the summer of 2024, but there may be a perception that he is more valuable to the team for another year rather than trying to make a quick buck now. He may be given new life in the upcoming season as midfield reinforcements reduce the possibility of injury.
Harvey Elliott
With 46 appearances across all competitions, Elliott had his finest professional season to date. Another person whose task will be lessened by new midfield players.
Curtis Jones
Jones put himself back into Klopp’s consideration with a stellar end-of-season run that saw him participate in all 11 of the team’s victories during the final two months of the season. Before that time, there may have been concerns about his future, but he will now be seen as a possibility.
Stefan Bajcetic
Teenage midfielder’s stunning leap from the development ranks to the first term last season makes a loan this summer unlikely. Due to an injury he sustained in March, Bajcetic’s season was cut short early, but he will still be heavily considered for the first team setup moving forward.
Mohamed Salah
The primary man for Liverpool had another season with 30 goals. Questions about the club’s decision to award him the largest deal ever at Anfield were made absurd by him in the early going. He will be essential to any future achievement.
Cody Gakpo
In his relatively brief debut as a Liverpool player, the January signing from the Netherlands showed a lot of potential, and the international has more than enough to support the notion that he will be a wonderful addition to the front line.
Darwin Nunez
Nunez’s 15 goals in his first season more than suggest that he has the makings of a star, but Klopp says his defensive play needs to be strengthened and that his linguistic abilities must advance. Currently faces stiff competition for a starting position, but his management can make good use of his nearly unique skill set next season. a prospective mine of a rough diamond.
Diogo Jota
How Liverpool missed having a Portugal player last year. Jota missed a total of about six months of play due to hamstring pain and a major calf issue. Nevertheless, I was able to finish the season with seven goals. He could be able to stake out the title of Liverpool’s best finisher. might be a key figure for Klopp in the upcoming campaign.
Luis Díaz
The Colombian international’s season was nearly destroyed by a catastrophic knee injury in October, but a strong summer can enable him return to the heights he displayed when he initially joined in the second half of the 2021/22 term, when he lit up the place.
Caoimhim Kelleher
This summer, Kelleher’s future will be under consideration. Although Klopp says that “an extraordinary offer” is necessary to convince Liverpool to sell, he is one of the few players on their roster who may bring in a sizable profit to supplement the club’s transfer budget. There will undoubtedly be parties with an interest, but much will depend on Klopp’s personal desires if he wants to maintain the Irishman.
Joe Gomez
His long-term future appears to be with Liverpool, as shown by the new deal he signed last summer, but his performances last season were far lower than usual, and he hasn’t been at his best in three years. To be fair, a variety of things can be blamed for these declines. Although Gomez is still only 26 years old, he has plenty of time to regain his 2019–20 levels of performance. If Liverpool choose to sell, though, he might bring in a respectable money. Watch this one.
Joel Matip
It will be intriguing to watch what happens with Matip’s future as he is another center-back who is now solidly in support of the established partnership of Konate and Van Dijk. When the next season begins, he will be 32, and it is uncertain whether selling him would be worthwhile given the kind of price he would want.
Kostas Tsimkas
It’s still possible that Tsimikas leaves this summer. The Greek defender is clearly below Robertson in the pecking order, and the new system shift may reduce the necessity for left-back specialists on the team. His emotional response during the season’s finale at Anfield was telling. Expect interest to grow during the summer.
Rhys Williams
Williams is popular at Liverpool, but he hasn’t played for the senior team in the past two years. The results of the young center-back’s loans to Swansea and Blackpool were inconclusive, so it’s unclear how much the Reds might regard him.
Nat Phillips
Since a few years ago, Liverpool has allowed other teams to express interest in Phillips, but each time, they have been compelled to lower their asking price. Teams will return to the negotiation table for Phillips, who is far down the Anfield food chain, after a £7 million bid being turned down in January. Whether or whether the Reds will be able to bank the kind of amount they are hoping for is the key concern.
Calvin Ramsay
Ramsay’s season was hampered by injuries, and the youthful right-back played against Derby in the Carabao Cup in November, his only professional game. Undoubtedly one for Anfield’s future, however a loan arrangement may be necessary first.
Fabio Carvalho
Although many clubs are interested in signing Carvalho on a loan, Liverpool does not want to lose the youthful attacker this summer. The Reds are prepared to evaluate each of those in the coming weeks, though any permanent offers would have been too expensive to even entice the team to explore further. A loan changeover is inevitable at some point.
Adrian
Adrian is probably going to extend his deal with Liverpool. Although Kelleher would draw significant interest, the veteran is currently Anfield’s third choice, and Adrian is a well-liked teammate who seems eager to stay put.
Ben Doak
Doak has made five senior appearances for the Reds this season and has been somewhat of a suprise. While Liverpool continues to closely watch his development, he is still only 17 years old, so it might be too young for even a loan agreement. The club may decide to delay moving temporarily to a less forgiving environment in a lower level for the time being.
Sepp Van den Berg
After moving to Schalke on loan, Sepp van den Berg will return. When he becomes 21, it will be interesting to see how his next move is handled. Another loan might be forthcoming since Liverpool is unlikely to receive a significant permanent contract.
