Liverpool's Future Defenders: Are Jacquet and Leoni the Next in Line for Van Dijk?
Virgil van Dijk is entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, which expires in the summer of 2027. This situation raises questions about who will take over the defensive responsibilities from the Dutch centre-back once he leaves. Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock suggested to GOAL that the club may already have plans, with young talents Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni emerging as potential successors.
Van Dijk’s Legacy at Anfield
After almost a decade at Liverpool, Van Dijk has become a cornerstone of the team. His achievements include two Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and a near win of the Ballon d’Or. The 35-year-old captain is expected to surpass 400 appearances before leaving, creating a significant gap in Liverpool’s defense.
Rising Stars Jacquet and Leoni
Despite Van Dijk still playing an important role this season, Liverpool's back line has shown vulnerabilities. Full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez need improvement, while Ronald Araujo is competing for consistent minutes. Jacquet, who joined Liverpool from Rennes for £55 million ($74 million), has adapted quickly, showing smooth movement and comfort on the ball.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Italian defender Giovanni Leoni was highly praised for his performances in Serie A before suffering an ACL injury during his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup against Southampton. He has been sidelined for nearly a year but remains a promising figure in Liverpool’s plans.
Do Liverpool Have a Plan for Van Dijk’s Replacement?
“Possibly. I think the hard thing is trying to replace, obviously, a player of Van Dijk’s stature,” Warnock told GOAL. “The signs were promising, both from Leoni, even after one game, but the talk around Serie A and how he performed in Italy. But there will always become a pressure once you get to a certain level.”
“There will be more talk, talking about Van Dijk and can they be the heir to the throne, of taking over Van Dijk? And it’s just about how they progress from now until probably around about 26, 27, when you learn so much about the game and you get better at understanding.”
“And that’s essentially what you have to do when you’re a centre-half. You’ve got to read the game better, you’ve got to get yourself in better positions, and that’s part of the process. So it’s very difficult to say whether they’re going to be the successors because they’re on the right trajectory. But there’s so many things that can come into place, like injuries and lack of form, the shirt being too heavy at times, where the club’s actually at.”
“When you think about when Virgil van Dijk came into the Liverpool team, it was almost him and Alisson that were the final two pieces of the jigsaw. And it slotted him perfectly into a great system, a great team. At the moment, Liverpool are in a transitional phase and that’s difficult to play in at times.”
Upcoming Challenges
Jacquet, though demonstrating promising skills, is yet to record a competitive clean sheet for Liverpool. The team has started the 2026-27 season with draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, both finishing 2-2. Liverpool will face Ipswich Town next in their Premier League campaign as they seek their first victory under manager Andoni Iraola.
- Next Match: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
- Date: 4 September 2026
- Time: 21:00
