Liverpool line up three major Manchester United targets to replace Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool are aiming to replace their captain Virgil van Dijk with one of three targets their fierce rivals Manchester United have recently pursued.

United bolstered their centre back department significantly in the summer with the purchases of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.

However, with the probable departures of Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire it is very likely that the Red Devils will once again dip into the summer market for a centre back in 2025.

It has been reported that United will make a move for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, who they bid twice for last season but ultimately failed to sign.

It is also plausible that United will return to sign one of their other previous targets and this is where their interests begin to intertwine with their great North-Western rivals.

Football website TEAMTalk report that rivals Liverpool are keen on a number of centre backs as they consider life after Van Dijk, with his contract situation very much up in the air.

Sources have informed them “that Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer is viewed as one of the ‘ideal candidates’ to be added to the Liverpool squad.”

Bremer was extensively linked to Old Trafford at the start of the year and was believed to have a release clause that could be activated next summer.

Ultimately, no move to came to pass and the Brazilian penned a new deal at his current side at the beginning of August. His release cause is now thought to be north of €60m.

Sources also tell TEAMtalk that “the defender Liverpool have been watching for the longest time though is Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who came close to joining Newcastle over the summer.”

“With Guehi’s contract expiring in 2026, sources say it is ‘not excluded’ that Palace could be open to negotiating lower figures than £75m for the defender next summer.”

The Red Devils were also linked to a move for the breakout England star over the summer and were reported to being ready to go head-to-head with Arsenal for his signature.

Finally, the website “understand that Liverpool boss Arne Slot is a big admirer of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, who has a €60m release clause in his contract.”

United have regularly looked at the Portuguese market for players in the past and were tipped to make a move for the defender in June. But no such move got off the ground as United chose to focus on other targets.

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