Richard Hughes' gamble has just brought Liverpool their next Virgil van Dijk

Richard Hughes' gamble has just brought Liverpool their next Virgil van Dijk Richard Hughes may have left Liverpool for pastures new at the end of the summer transfer window but, that doesn't mean that he didn't go out with a bang. Before his exit, the Englishman spent over £150 million on four new players to try and bolster the Reds' ranks. And, while all four of those players have done well so far, some questions still need to be asked about what the future holds for Liverpool. There are many areas of their ranks that they're a bit weak in at the moment and, with a lot of contracts set to expire in June 2027, there are going to be a lot of gaps among their first-team squad. Fans have already given in to losing some players such as Wataru Endo but, for others such as Virgil van Dijk , they're still holding on hope. However, just in case negotiations with the Liverpool captain don't end up going well, they need to have a succession plan in place which is why one of Hughes' many gambles could be about to pay off. Mor Talla Ndiaye is going to be Liverpool's next Virgil van Dijk Van Dijk is still one of Liverpool's best defender's despite him being 35 years old. The Dutchman has been the rock in the middle of the Reds' defence ever since he joined back in 2017 and, even though he's now in the twilight stages of his career, you can tell that every defender who comes through the Anfield doors still looks towards him as the example of a perfect defender. He may not be as fast as he used to be but, his aerial and ground duel win percentage are excellent which, as a centre-back, is two of the main things you need. Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet are probably expected to be the Reds' starting centre-backs next season but, even further on than next season, Liverpool need a plan. That's why, all the youth players that they've been signing could become so important. And of the lot, Mor Talla Ndiaye feels like the most likely to succeed and fill the gap left by Van Dijk long-term. Why Mor Talla Ndiaye is going to be Liverpool's next Virgil van Dijk At the moment, Ndiaye is only 18 years old so calling him the next Van Dijk may seem a tad extreme. However, after his more than impressive performances at the Under-17's World Cup, it's clear that the Senegal international has plenty of potential to fulfil. He joined the Reds back in February 2026 and, even though all of his outings during his time at Liverpool have come with the Under-21 team or in friendlies, he has been named in the Reds' matchday squad on a couple of occasions. Signing Ndiaye was a gamble for Hughes as, even though he put out some decent performances he was still a complete unknown. Obviously, signing players like this before they have their breakthrough is the best way to nurture talent but, it's still all a risk. To make things even sweeter, the defender is also left-footed so, even if someone such as Ifeanyi Ndukwe returns, there's still going to be a place in Liverpool's team for Ndiaye.