“Like having two Van Dijks” – Liverpool fans react to latest transfer move
By David Gate
Liverpool are making a move for Benfica defender Francisco Reis Ferreira according to transfer reports and he is drawing comparisons to Virgil van Dijk.
Virgil van Dijk has transformed the Liverpool defense and is in the running for player of the year, but the Reds are looking to bring in a carbon copy of him in Benfica center back Francisco Reis Ferreira.
The 21-year-old has become one of the shining stars of the Benfica side who sit at the top of the Primeira Liga, level on points with the Reds’ next Champions League opponents Porto.
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His style of play is drawing comparisons with the Anfield colossus. He is also a tall, strong, aerially dominant defender who has a beautiful range of passing.
Liverpool broke the transfer record for a defender when they bought van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018 for £75 million. They will likely have to break their own record if they are to move for Ferreira as his release fee sits at a cool £85 million.
The only issue is that both Ferreira and van Dijk play on the left side of the center back duo. If the club do move for the Portuguese star then one of the pair will have to shift to the right side.
As the lynchpin of the back four, you have to think it would be the new boy who would make the positional compromise.
The Reds have Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as excellent partners for van Dijk but Jurgen Klopp wants to add another to the fold as both have checkered injury histories. Dejan Lovren is expected to be a transfer outgoing in the summer.
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I would be surprised if Liverpool made the center back position a priority within the summer transfer budget. I think they will sign someone but I don’t think they will splash this kind of cash as they want to bring in another world-class forward like Timo Werner or Maxi Gomez.