Liverpool transfer may not solve Virgil van Dijk problem that won't go away

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Virgil van Dijk continues to turn out for both club and country but does Liverpool captain need his burden to be eased?Virgil van Dijk has grown accustomed to setting new standards and reaching landmarks during his long, successful career.But there's one record that should act as a badge of honour for the centre-back - and a reason for concern for Liverpool.After the conclusion of the World Cup group stage in helping Holland progress, Van Dijk was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues to have featured in every minute of the tournament having been on the pitch for the entire season of the domestic league campaign.If a testament to his durability approaching his 35th birthday next week, it's also a reminder the Holland international is very much due a breather.Not even the Liverpool skipper can go on forever. And that could pose an unwelcome headache for new Reds head coach Andoni Iraola.For some time, Liverpool have been future planning for when Van Dijk eventually calls time on his Anfield sojourn.

Indeed, when Ibrahima Konate was signed five years ago, the Dutchman regarded the incoming man as his potential successor.It says much that Konate has now come and gone with Van Dijk still the main centre-back in the Liverpool squad, albeit having formed a partnership with the departed Frenchman that took the Reds to the Champions League final in 2022 and was a foundation of their Premier League title success in 2025.The exit of Konate, though, has heaped further pressure and responsibility on Van Dijk at a time when it could be prudent to begin greater managing of his minutes.And while Liverpool have continued to take steps during the past 12 months to start moving beyond the captain, there is every chance the heart of the Reds rearguard will be both very inexperienced and short of match fitness.Giovanni Leoni, the 19-year-old taken from Parma last season, hasn't played since being injured on his Liverpool debut in the League Cup last September, while 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury mere days after his imminent move from Rennes had been confirmed in late January.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageNeither youngster has kicked a ball in the Premier League.

But that Liverpool have committed almost £100million on the duo outlines their faith they can provide long-term competition at centre-back and are capable of cutting it in the physical, hectic nature of English football.The other centre-back option is Joe Gomez, whose seniority is such that he is Liverpool's current longest-serving player ahead of his 12th season at the Reds.The 29-year-old, though, has suffered from regular fitness setbacks during the past few seasons and started only one Premier League game last term at centre-back and has remarkably done so only 10 times since February 2023.Gomez also cast doubt over his own future with comments earlier this year, although the change in the dugout means the landscape has subsequently shifted significantly.What hasn't altered, though, is the question over whether Liverpool require a further, more experienced centre-back option following the loss of Konate.But given Van Dijk would almost always be a definite starter when available, would signing another defender be worthwhile given they may only be limited to the odd game and in the knowledge Leoni and Jacquet were above them in the pecking order for the short and long term?It would be a tough sell. And with Liverpool requiring immediate surgery elsewhere in the squad, the funds available for such a signing would in any case be somewhat limited.Van Dijk, then, looks set to have to take on further responsibility in helping cajole and encourage both Leoni and Jacquet through the opening steps of their respective Premier League careers while maintaining his own high standards.