Luckily for Liverpool and (Aston Villa), the Premier League is running away with five qualifying places for next season’s Champions League, losing both of their games this weekend which could have secured them their place. – Liverpool lost away at Old Trafford to Manchester United, while Aston Villa had to bite the bullet at home at Villa Park against Tottenham in extreme need of points.
Even though things haven’t gone as planned this season, Liverpool still seem to be keeping hold of manager Arne Slot.
Read: Manchester United ready to smash records to sign ‘world’s best striker’
Liverpool’s new shortlist for centre-backs revealed
Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni are on Liverpool’s shortlist of new centre-back reinforcements, as the club look for a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk will be one of the few Liverpool legends still at the club next season, while Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are preparing to leave.
He will turn 35 when the 2026/27 season starts, and he could also leave the club when his contract expires next summer.
Schlotterbeck and Bastoni on the list
As I revealed in the latest edition of Football Insider’s “Transfer Insider” podcast, Liverpool have Schlotterbeck and Bastoni on their list of potential successors at the left centre-back position.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s transfer plans include signing another new centre-back in the summer. After all, Jeremy Jacquet is already ready for the club after being signed in January.
The season of the stars – and Liverpool’s interest
Schlotterbeck recently signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund, but that still does not rule out a sale in the summer.
Bastoni has been central to Inter’s Serie A triumph this season, and he is considered one of the world’s best in his position. Several clubs are circling around to lure him away from the San Siro.
Comparison: Schlotterbeck vs Bastoni (league stats 2025/26)
| Sporten.com – Table | Nico Schlotterbeck | Alessandro Bastoni |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 26 | 27 |
| Kept a clean sheet | 10 | 8 |
| Goals conceded on the pitch | 27 | 21 |
| Assists % | 88,3 % | 87,3 % |
| Duels Won % | 60,3 % | 58,8 % |
| Tackles per 90 | 1,73 | 2,10 |
| Ball recoveries per 90 | 5,15 | 4,03 |
Liverpool are interested in Gonçalo Inácio, but he is not the only left-footed centre-back on their transfer list at the moment.
In the “Transfer Insider” podcast, you could hear:
“Liverpool have been linked with players like Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni – similar left-footed centre-backs to Inácio.
“This is obviously part of the team Liverpool have to plan for the future, as Van Dijk is nearing the end of his career.
Read: Real Madrid is boiling again
Championship clubs battle it out for Luca Stephenson
Liverpool loaned 22-year-old Stephenson to Dundee United for the second time last summer. Since then, he has been a huge success at Tannadice.
The right-back, who came through Liverpool’s own youth ranks, has five goals and five assists in 30 league games. Unfortunately, his season ended prematurely due to a hamstring injury.
He looks set to leave Anfield permanently in the summer. Sources have told Football Insider that Rangers are battling Championship clubs for Stephenson’s signature.
However, “Gers” has not followed up their original interest with an official bid. A move to level two in England now looks more likely than ever.
