Liverpool have already found their Virgil van Dijk replacement but Real Madrid could scupper Arne Slot's transfer plan

Liverpool may have already found the perfect replacement for club legend Virgil van Dijk if he leaves this summer, but Real Madrid could stand in the way.

With just three months left of the Premier League season, Liverpool fans are still no closer to discovering the futures of star players Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk.

As it stands, all three of the vital players look set to leave Anfield in the summer following the expiration of their contracts.

And it has now been revealed that Liverpool may have already began preparing for Van Dijk's potential departure, as they have already identified the perfect replacement should he leave in the summer.

Having made over 300 appearances for the Reds since arriving from Southampton in January 2018, Van Dijk has established himself as one of the most important players to Liverpool's recent success under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

The Dutchman will be almost impossible to replace if he decides his time at Anfield is up, but a report from Caught Offside claims that Liverpool feel they may have found the one man who could step up to the task.

According to the report, Liverpool have held a long-standing interest in Red Bull Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba and are weighing up making a move for the 22-year-old once the transfer window opens once again in June.

Despite his age, the Frenchman boasts 128 senior appearances between spells at Lyon and Leipzig and is seen as a perfect option to boost Liverpool's backline in the summer.

Castello Lukeba has made 60 appearances for RB Leipzig. (Image: Getty)

Leipzig see the youngster as a key part of their squad, having tied him down to a new deal that keeps him at the club until 2029 in October, but the report claims that plans are already under way for a potential move in the summer.

Not only this, but his new contract is believed to include a release clause of €90m [£74.5m] that can be triggered in the summer.

But, Liverpool aren't the only European giants said to be interested in the talented defender, as Real Madrid are also said to be eager to secure his signature this summer.

Frustratingly for Slot, it would appear that the La Liga giants remain the favourites to sign Lukeba, as it is believed that both he and his agents see a move to Madrid as their favoured option should he leave Leipzig at the end of the season.