The shock news last month that Jurgen Klopp will depart Liverpool at the end of this season has cast doubt on what the years to come have in store for the club.
Klopp has been with the club since October 2015 and has overseen a complete transformation of the team's fortunes on the pitch during that time.
That rejuvenation for Liverpool has been aided by several huge additions to the squad, most of which came in 12 months between summer 2017 and 2018.
The summer transfer window ahead of the 2017-18 season saw Mohamed Salah arrive from Roma before Virgil van Dijk signed in the following January, and Alisson joined them at Anfield in the summer of 2018.
Salah and Alisson have both become league leaders in their positions - but it is the acquisition of van Dijk which is regularly credited with signalling the turning point for Klopp's Liverpool.
However, Van Dijk has made remarks in recent weeks which may concern Liverpool fans. When asked whether he would stay at the club past Klopp's departure in June, he was non-committal, sparking fears the club may lose both their manager and captain this summer. Reports in the UK now suggest that Liverpool are keeping tabs on an in-form Premier League centre-half in case of van Dijk's departure.
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Liverpool pursuing Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo
The Evening Standard report that Fulham's 26-year-old defender Tosin Adarabioyo is on Liverpool's shortlist should Virgil van Dijk leave the club this summer.
Tosin the Tower! 🗼#FFC pic.twitter.com/MwOOa8BgBj
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 17, 2022
Adarabioyo has been an integral part of the Fulham defence this season, as they seem set to remain in the Premier League for a third consecutive year. Though he spent the first part of this season sidelined through injury, he has started all of Fulham's last nine games - curiously, the last game he missed was the thrilling 4-3 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in December.
The Englishman began his career at Manchester City, making a handful of senior appearances. He would spend seasons on loan at West Brom and Blackburn before settling at Craven Cottage in 2020.
Liverpool will reportedly have to fight AC Milan for the signature of Adarabioyo, whose contract with Fulham expires at the end of the current season.
Though van Dijk has clarified that he is "fully committed" to Liverpool in recent weeks, the fact that Liverpool are looking for reinforcements at centre-back may hint at some long-term planning for the post-Jurgen Klopp era. With the Dutchman turning 33 this year, that may not be the worst strategy even if he is still a Liverpool player next season.
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