Liverpool are being linked with a transfer bid for a young defender who is really making a name for himself in the Bundesliga – but is he mature enough to replace one of their biggest?
It may seem early for Liverpool to plan for life after Virgil van Dijk, but several signs suggest that the 35-year-old’s time at Anfield could be coming to an end – including reports linking the club with a younger successor.
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Van Dijk’s contract expires after the 2026/27 season, and there do not appear to have been talks about an extension. At the same time, age has started to make itself felt, most recently with a gross mistake that led to the opening goal in last week’s Champions League match against Villarreal. The mistake was not costly, but it did sow further doubts about the experienced defender’s future.
While Liverpool are considering whether to keep Van Dijk, they appear to be doing thorough research on a possible replacement: Finn Yeltsch from Stuttgart. But is the 20-year-old ready to take over from one of the Reds’ best defenders – and how realistic is a transfer?
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Liverpool are one of two teams that have taken a special interest in Yeltsch, along with Barcelona. The Reds have reportedly had the youngster on their radar since the start of the season.
Yeltsch was already a regular at Stuttgart and was selected for the German national team for the first time during the last international break. Although he did not get to make his debut under Jürgen Klopp, his place in the expanded squad was another step in a development that has been pointing upwards since his breakthrough in senior football in 2023 with former club Nuremberg.
Yeltsch is a versatile and technical defender who usually plays as a right centre-back, but can also play right-back or defensive midfield. He possesses many of the qualities that are looked for in modern defenders: he is a natural ball player, confident in possession and calm under high pressure, and also has an impressive sense of position that means he is always in the right place at the right time.
His inexperience is still evident from time to time, but his basic skills are solid, and he is exceptional in one-on-one situations when ball carriers challenge him. At 1.88m, he is also solid at the back, although he may not be a dominant figure in the air.
He lacks the raw physique that made Van Dijk one of Europe’s best centre-backs, but has a technique and passing record that suggests he could surpass the Dutchman in other areas in the long run. It’s no wonder that both Liverpool and Barcelona are keeping a close eye on his progress in the Bundesliga.
The scouts who have reportedly been sent out to monitor Yeltsch have seen both good and bad lately. He was involved in one of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s goals in last week’s 3-2 defeat, when he lost the ball in a dangerous position and triggered a successful counter-attack. At the same time, they have seen him sacrifice himself to block a shot that seemed to end in the goal. Yeltsch has rough edges that need to be sanded away, but the talent seems to have very high potential.
How likely are Liverpool to sign Jeltsch in 2027?
According to Sport’s reporting, Barcelona and Liverpool are not the only clubs that have followed Yeltsch – Arsenal and Real Madrid are also said to have taken a look. Although their interest is not described as intense at the moment, more teams could soon be in the bidding round when the time comes.
Anything is unlikely to happen in January. Yeltsch’s future is likely to be decided in the summer – at a time when Liverpool have also decided on Van Dijk’s fate.
The Reds have already shown a willingness to bring in young defenders as part of the ongoing revamp of their defence. They are unlikely to be deterred from investing in a player like Yeltsch after the immediate success of the very impressive Jérémy Jacquet, who has been among the best defenders in the Premier League early in the season.
Since Yeltsch fits into a similar profile to Jacquet, the interest makes sense – and it wouldn’t be surprising if Liverpool are in the picture when the youngster’s future is decided. The price tag is likely to be significant.
Stuttgart have Jeltsch under contract until 2030 and are in no hurry to sell. Sport suggests that he could cost as much as €60 million (£50 million). The sum is not out of Liverpool’s reach, but the club expects to get a player who is ready for first-team football for such a price. Jeltsch is not yet stable enough for it to be proven that he is ready to start at Anfield.
By next summer, however, he may have sanded away enough of the rough edges for the investment to justify – and Liverpool appear to be a logical destination if Van Dijk leaves the club at the end of the season. Like all early transfer rumours, the reports about Yeltsch are speculative, but they are at least in line with Liverpool’s transfer policy and potential needs.
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