Van Dijk and Gomez set for Liverpool exit

Liverpool face a looming void in central defence as Virgil van Dijk’s £400k‑a‑week contract expires at the end of the season and Joe Gomez also departs on a free. Manager Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid are both circling 19‑year‑old Luka Vuskovic, a nine‑figure teenage prospect, for the summer 2027 window.

Defence faces looming exits

Virgil van Dijk will leave Liverpool on a free when his £400k‑a‑week deal runs out in summer 2027, leaving a rare gap in the heart of the back line. Joe Gomez’s contract also expires at the same time, confirming a double departure that will force the club to rebuild its centre‑back options.

While the departures loom, Liverpool have already secured the futures of Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, signalling a longer‑term plan for the defensive department. Both youngsters have signed contracts that tie them to Anfield beyond the next season, providing a measure of continuity amid the expected turnover.

Liverpool face huge price tag as Brighton guard Luka Vuskovic

Vuskovic emerges as nine‑figure target

Luka Vuskovic, a 19‑year‑old Croatian centre‑back, has become the focal point of Liverpool’s summer strategy. According to Football Insider, both Liverpool and Real Madrid are actively pursuing him, with the Amex crowd already discussing a potential nine‑figure fee that could materialise in the 2027 window.

The teenager’s résumé includes a loan spell at Hamburg from Tottenham, where he netted six Bundesliga goals, followed by a permanent move to Brighton in July. Brighton’s latest league data record seven starts and one goal for Vuskovic, while the club originally paid £46million and granted him a five‑year deal with an additional year’s option.

Interest from Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona has also been reported, though Brighton would need to sanction an early sale for any move to proceed. Should Liverpool finalise a deal, the nine‑figure outlay would replace the departing veterans and restore depth to a defence that has been a cornerstone of their recent success.