Liverpool make £85m defender Luka Vuskovic their top target as stunning deal teed up

Brighton's Luka Vuskovic has become the number one defensive target for Liverpool as they prepare for life after Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk signed a new two-year contract in April 2025 to extend his stay at Anfield until June 2027, and the centre-back is in line for a one-year contract extension. Senior Anfield officials are long-term admirers of the Croatian international and were surprised when Tottenham sold him to Brighton for £50m over the summer.

Liverpool hold really strong interest in Vuskovic and are closely monitoring his situation, alongside Bayern Munich. Liverpool are big fans of Levi Colwill too, but Chelsea have no intention of selling the Englishman, which has seen Andoni Iraola turn his full attention to Vuskovic.

A source said: "Brighton are realistic and pragmatic about this. They know, because it's part of their whole strategy, that eventually Vuskovic is going to leave for big money." The source added: "Liverpool view him as elite, and perfect to slot into Andoni Iraola's system."

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Brighton are tipped to hold out for £85-90m before selling the 19-year-old, and that mega price will not put Liverpool off. Such a deal would make Vuskovic the world's most expensive defender, eclipsing deals involving Harry Maguire, Josko Gvardiol, Matthijs de Ligt and Van Dijk himself.

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