Premier League giants Liverpool are back on the trail of Torino defender Perr Schuurs with Tuttomercatoweb reporting that the Atletico Madrid target has been lined up as a potential Virgil van Dijk replacement.
As Liverpool’s already-disappointing campaign took a turn for the worse on Saturday, suffering their first home defeat since March 2021 against a struggling Leeds United, the statistics told a rather sorry tale.
Jesse Marsch’s fired-up visitors ran 11 kilometres more than Jurgen Klopp’s ragged hosts. Leeds also made 169 high-intensity sprints to Liverpool’s 154, and 21 tackles to the Reds’ 17 (Sky Sports).
Then again, is it really a surprise that there was such a difference in intensity between the two sides? The average age of Liverpool’s starting XI was 28. Leeds; 25. Van Dijk was one of five players in Klopp’s starting XI over the age of 30, and the once-infallible Dutchman looked every one of his 31 years as Crysencio Summerville ghosted past him to score an 89th minute winner.
“They concede way too many goals. Van Dijk no longer plays as convincingly as usual,” says former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerweld. “He was known for almost always playing (with a clear head). But now, it is just not the case in many matches. He makes quite a few mistakes. I think this is his worst season at Liverpool.”
Could Perr Schuurs replace Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool?
This is a Liverpool side crying out for some fresh blood. A transfusion of youthful exuberance. It is common knowledge that Klopp wants a new midfielder, with up-and-coming talent such as Jude Bellingham, Enzo Fernandez, Joao Gomes and Florentino Luis on Liverpool’s radar.
TMW, meanwhile, say that the process of identifying ‘Van Dijk’s heir’ is also underway. Netherlands U21 international Schuurs would have big boots to fill. Figuratively and literally. But another near-faultless display during Torino’s 2-1 victory over Serie A champions AC Milan is proof of his ability to stand firm against such elite-level opposition.
Schuurs only moved to Italy from Ajax in an £8 million deal last summer. Both Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are already keeping tabs on his development in Turin, however, and this is not the first time Schuurs has caught the eye of the men from Merseyside.
“Clubs of the calibre of Tottenham, Liverpool and PSG had moved to take the player,” explains agent George Gardi; admitting that Schuurs is not a new name on Klopp’s wishlist.
“In addition to Liverpool, Tottenham and PSG, three Italian clubs also wanted Schuurs. However, having chosen a path, we went on to follow it without delay, with strong conviction. Thanks to Torino, I am sure Schuurs can become a pillar of the Dutch national team.”
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