Steven Gerrard picks the ‘perfect’ player to replace Virgil van Dijk amid transfer talk
Steven Gerrard has said that Jeremy Jacquet is the perfect player to take over from Virgil van Dijk after his strong start at Liverpool.
Liverpool fans have already said goodbye to club legends like Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson at the end of the 2025/26 season, so the idea of losing another key player is tough to think about.
At 35, it’s clear that captain Van Dijk is in the last chapter of his time at Liverpool. But Gerrard, also a club legend, believes the team is in good hands with Jacquet stepping up.
After Ibrahima Konate left last season, fans were worried about the defense under new manager Andoni Iraola. But Jacquet, who officially joined Liverpool this summer after a loan spell at Stade Rennais, quickly became a key player.
The 21-year-old has played in every game so far this season and helped Liverpool keep three clean sheets in their first five Premier League matches. Many fans have already called him the signing of the season, praising how much better the defense looks with him.
Gerrard agrees. In an interview with SPORTbible, he said Jacquet is showing he could be the perfect replacement for Van Dijk when the time comes.
“I’ve loved watching him since the pre-season friendlies,” Gerrard said. “He’s calm, moves well, and has a great profile. He’s still young and raw, but he has a lot of potential. I think he’ll be the perfect replacement for Virg in a year or two because he’s helped make the back four stronger.”
Van Dijk’s contract runs until summer 2027, so fans might have a little time before saying goodbye. But with rumors linking him to clubs like AC Milan, it seems likely he could leave sooner rather than later. It’s hoped he’ll stick around at Liverpool for at least one more season to give Jacquet more time to grow.
Replacing Van Dijk won’t be easy. He helped Liverpool get 111 clean sheets in the Premier League and won eight trophies with the club. Gerrard even calls him the team’s best current player.
Still, Gerrard says Van Dijk has an important role in helping younger players like Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, who recently recovered from injury, to develop into top-class defenders.
“Virg has been one of Liverpool’s best signings in the last ten years and he’s made the team a lot better,” Gerrard told SPORTbible. “He still has a big part to play in his last year or two by guiding these younger players. He leads by example and I’m sure he’s giving them the right advice.”
Gerrard added, “The next 12 to 24 months are really important because Liverpool has lost a lot of experienced players, so it’s key to keep some of these leaders around.”