Liverpool could potentially acquire Sevilla centre-back Loic Bade to replace Virgil van Dijk for a fee as low as €20m (£16.7m), according to reports.
Van Dijk, who celebrated his 33rd birthday this past summer, is nearing the end of his contract at Anfield. While the status of his contract extension talks remains unclear, it’s evident that he is in the latter stages of his career with the club.
Bade, 24, has been mentioned as a likely successor for Van Dijk. He did not play during his loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the 2022/23 season but has made a positive impression since joining Sevilla and is being considered for a significant transfer.
Mundo Deportivo indicates that Sevilla would be open to offers around €20m for Bade, primarily due to the club’s challenging financial situation. This is the first mention of a specific figure for Liverpool, although Sevilla’s readiness to entertain a lower deal has been previously noted.
AS reported last month that Sevilla regards Bade as their most valuable asset and attempted to sell him for approximately €20m during the summer. Bade turned down a transfer to Stuttgart, and a last-minute offer from Roma was rejected because it didn’t allow Sevilla enough time to find a replacement.
In response, Sevilla extended Bade’s contract until 2029, increasing his release clause from €42m (£35m) to €60m (£50m), yet they remain willing to sell for “considerably less.”
Bade’s strong performances earned him his first call-up to the France national team for the October international break, although he did not play in the matches against Israel and Belgium.
