Ideal successor to Virgil van Dijk’ named as Liverpool learn why £34m star is perfect – ‘Physically strong and incredibly quick’

Liverpool fans all over the world have spent years watching Virgil van Dijk stand like a mountain in the heart of the defence, a fearless leader who carried the team through storms, finals, and unforgettable battles. Since 2018 when he joined from Southampton, the club transformed from a hopeful Premier League side to one of the best teams on the planet. The Champions League nights, the league title, the cup victories, the wars against Manchester City, the incredible moments at Anfield, the sliding tackles, the headers, the calmness in the most chaotic matches, everything seemed to have one constant heartbeat, and that heartbeat was Virgil van Dijk. But football has its own journey, and even legends do not stay at the top forever. Now at 34 years of age, the football world is beginning to accept a reality that many fans have refused to believe. One day, Liverpool will walk out into a match without Van Dijk leading them, without his calmness, without his presence, and that thought has brought fear, nostalgia, and pressure into the minds of the club’s decision makers. Arne Slot knows it, Richard Hughes the sporting director knows it, even the fans can feel it in the air. It is time to prepare for life after Virgil van Dijk.

People who love football never forget greatness, but they also never stop searching for the next one. And right now, a name is echoing everywhere from analysts to legends, from journalists to former players, and even inside Liverpool itself. The name is Micky van de Ven. A defender who is now playing for Tottenham Hotspur, only 24 years of age, unbelievably fast, strong like a tank, and already a guaranteed starter for the Netherlands national team. In the Dutch squad, he stands beside Van Dijk, and many people are now saying that he is not just playing next to the Liverpool captain… he is the one who will replace him.

Khalid Boulahrouz, the former Chelsea and Netherlands defender, spoke with so much confidence that Liverpool fans could feel the message shake through the football world. He said Van de Ven is physically strong, incredibly quick, and that players don’t even bother trying to get past him anymore because they know he is too fast. He said he sometimes makes mistakes with the ball, but overall he is fantastic. And then came the words that woke up the entire Liverpool community across social media, TV pundits, YouTube sports channels and football forums. He said, “I think he’s the ideal successor to Virgil van Dijk, both in the Dutch national team and at Liverpool.”

That statement entered the hearts of fans immediately. Not only because Van de Ven plays the same position. Not only because he is fast. Not only because he is Dutch. But because when someone who understands defending sees the future, the world listens. And Boulahrouz was not the only one. Analysts all across Europe have been praising the Tottenham defender. The Premier League is full of strong attackers and elite players but Van de Ven has looked like a wall that refuses to break. His recovery speed is shocking, his one-versus-one defending makes strikers uncomfortable, and his partnership with Cristian Romero at Spurs has become one of the strongest defensive duos in the league.

But the real problem now is not whether he is good enough for Liverpool. The real problem is whether Liverpool can get him. The Spanish press confirmed that Liverpool are strongly monitoring him. TeamTalk sources confirmed that Real Madrid are also watching him. And this is where the pressure begins, because once Real Madrid enters a transfer battle, things become complicated. Liverpool want to secure the future of their defence. Real Madrid want to strengthen their defence for their next generation. Tottenham want to keep him because they know he is not just good, he is world class. And the player himself is happy where he is, enjoying his football and building a future at a club that believes in him

Tottenham paid only £34 million for him in 2023, which looks like a bargain today because his value has multiplied on the market. Reports say Tottenham have “zero intention” of selling him, and they have already started talks to give him a new contract that will double his salary and keep him at the club until 2029 or beyond. When the chairman of a club believes a defender is one of the best in the world, the price becomes extremely high. And when the defender is young, fast and improving every single month, that price increases even more. This is where Liverpool’s challenge stands. They know Van de Ven is perfect. They know he would be the perfect successor to Van Dijk. They know he plays the exact style Arne Slot wants in a defender. But they also know Tottenham will fight with everything to keep him.

Right now, Liverpool are planning for a new defensive era. Ibrahima Konaté might leave because his contract expires at the end of the season. Joe Gomez has become the most versatile defender in the squad, but questions still remain if he is the long-term centre back or a utility defender. Jarell Quansah is developing fast but he is still too young to be the main leader of the defence. And if Liverpool want to continue competing for the Premier League and Champions League for many years, they need someone who can step into Van Dijk’s shoes when the time arrives. Liverpool want someone who combines physical strength, speed, elite defending and the mentality to control the back line. And that player profile currently has one clear match — Micky van de Ven.

Arne Slot already understands the emotional side of this story. At Feyenoord, he watched young players grow into world-class performers and then leave for bigger clubs. Now at Liverpool, he is trying to build the next generation but he cannot hide from reality. When a player who has been the heart of the club for so long reaches the final stage of their peak, planning must begin immediately. Slot respects Van Dijk deeply. The players respect him. The fans love him. But football never stops. And replacement planning has nothing to do with disrespect — it is survival.

Even Boulahrouz talked about Van Dijk not being at his best this season because of the pressure and changes around him. Liverpool lost Diogo Jota to injury, many new players joined the team, and Van Dijk needed time to adapt. The Premier League is unforgiving. Even the best players in history face criticism when performance drops even a little. But everyone agrees Van Dijk remains world class. He is still the captain of Liverpool. He is still the leader of the Netherlands. He is still the heartbeat of the defence. The question is not whether he is finished. The question is how long his body can continue at this elite level.

Liverpool do not want to react too late. They want to act early. They want a smooth transition. The dream scenario is for Van Dijk to play with Van de Ven for a season or two, teach him leadership, positioning, how to stay calm in the most intense matches, how to deal with title pressure, how to handle world-class attackers, and pass the torch when the time comes. Imagine Van Dijk mentoring the next Dutch defensive superstar at Anfield. Imagine Van de Ven learning the secrets of elite defending directly from one of the greatest centre backs in Premier League history. The idea alone makes fans emotional.

But Tottenham have their own dreams. They want to return to regular Champions League football and compete for trophies under new leadership. They believe Van de Ven is a symbol of their ambition, the player they can build around. They are preparing a new contract to lock him down for many years. Cristian Romero staying at Spurs also plays a major role, because the two defenders enjoy playing together and share incredible chemistry. Graeme Bailey reported that Van de Ven is happy in London, settled in life, playing at a club that values him, and ready to sign a new deal. Many Tottenham fans are already calling him “untouchable”.

For Liverpool, that is the painful part. The player who fits them perfectly might not want to move. Or even if he does move, the price might become outrageous. Tottenham will not accept anything cheap. Real Madrid are watching from the shadows. And every day that passes, the transfer becomes more complicated. But that has never stopped Liverpool before. Many people said Liverpool would never sign Alisson. Many said the club would never sign Van Dijk. Many said Liverpool would never sign Darwin Núñez. When Liverpool want a player they truly believe in, they fight until the end.

The club knows they are entering a new era. Salah will eventually leave. Alisson will eventually move on. Van Dijk will one day no longer lead the line. And the question is not how many trophies Liverpool have won. The question is how many more they can win. To continue being a superpower, Liverpool must prepare before it is too late. And that is why the name Micky van de Ven continues to echo through the walls of Anfield.

Some fans say Van Dijk still has more years. Some say Quansah will be the future. Some say Konaté should be kept and given a new contract. Every opinion is passionate because Liverpool supporters care about their club more than anything. But even emotions cannot erase the truth that Liverpool must sign a new centre back — and soon. And when you describe the perfect defender for the future, the description always sounds exactly like Micky van de Ven.

However, football is not a fairytale written by fans. It is a business. Tottenham are ready to offer a huge new salary. The contract ends in 2029. There is no release clause. There is no pressure to sell. Real Madrid scouts are watching. Liverpool scouts are watching. The player is growing every week. And one day, the club that is the most serious, the most prepared, the most strategic and the most determined will win the race.

The most emotional question now is simple. Will the next Dutch mountain rise at Anfield?

Because the day Virgil van Dijk retires, leaves, or slows down, every Liverpool fan will search for someone who can bring hope back into the defence. Someone who can run like a lion, defend with courage, inspire teammates, silence stadiums full of rival fans, and stand at the back like nothing can break him. Micky van de Ven has shown he can be that player. And Liverpool’s heart knows it.

Right now, all Liverpool can do is plan, study, wait, and be ready. Because whether the transfer happens in 2026, 2027 or later, the inevitable truth is that one day a new leader must protect the badge. A new defender must stand in front of the goalkeeper. A new warrior must carry the responsibility that Van Dijk has carried for almost a decade. And if Liverpool get it right, the future will be bright. But if they get it wrong, the whole project can collapse.

This story is not just a transfer rumour. It is the emotional crossroads of a football club. It is the coming end of a legendary era and the hopeful beginning of a new one. The fans are ready to fight for Van Dijk until his last day. But they are also ready to welcome the next hero when the time arrives.

Time will tell where Micky van de Ven will go. Time will tell whether Tottenham keep him or whether Liverpool bring him home to the Netherlands captain’s throne. But one thing is certain. If Micky van de Ven ever walks into Anfield wearing a Liverpool shirt, the roar from the stands will shake the entire Premier League. Because the fans will know, deep down in their hearts, that the next chapter has arrived.