Koulierakis Emerges as Leading Candidate in Liverpool’s Centre-Back Succession Plan

Defensive succession becomes urgent

There is a quiet inevitability at Liverpool right now, a sense that the sands are shifting in the heart of defence. Virgil van Dijk, the imperious figure at the back for much of the club’s modern renaissance, turned 34 in July. His contract runs until 2027, but as with all great players, time prompts planning.

The club has already sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, an eyebrow-raising move given the lack of immediate cover. Joe Gomez, once heralded as a long-term heir, remains mired in injury setbacks. Ibrahima Konaté, highly regarded but with less than a year left on his deal, presents a further layer of complexity.

This is no longer just a matter of succession. It is now one of necessity.

Koulierakis identified as high-potential target

Liverpool are casting the net widely. Joel Ordonez, Giovanni Leoni and Konstantinos Koulierakis have all been scouted. But it is Koulierakis who has prompted more serious discussion inside the club.

“Liverpool see him as the next Van Dijk,” reported Sportime in Greece. The 21-year-old Greek international has grown quickly since arriving at Wolfsburg from PAOK in 2024. He is under contract until 2029, and the Bundesliga side would likely demand a fee in the region of £41 million.

The defender’s rise was underlined by his former PAOK academy coach, Alexiadis Alexandros. “At the first year, he was among the three top talents in his age group. From the moment he moved in the U17 and changed his position, he has been unstoppable up until now.”

Value must align with readiness

Koulierakis offers the right profile: a left-footed defender, comfortable in a high line, physically imposing, tactically aware. But Liverpool’s challenge will be gauging whether he is prepared to step into the pressures of Anfield or needs time to adapt, perhaps behind the scenes, before becoming a regular starter.

There is no margin for error when it comes to defensive recruitment. The legacy of Van Dijk demands it.

Urgency growing with Konaté situation unresolved

Liverpool’s summer business has already been pragmatic, but the central defensive situation cannot be allowed to drift. Konaté’s contract impasse brings uncomfortable parallels with the delay in resolving Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future.

Should Liverpool secure a long-term replacement like Koulierakis, they must act swiftly and with conviction. Every quiet day without movement in the market brings louder questions.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s growing urgency among Liverpool supporters for the club to sort out its centre-back situation. Quansah’s departure surprised many, but fans assumed there would be a clear plan. Right now, that plan feels uncertain.

The idea of Koulierakis being scouted as the “next Van Dijk” is intriguing. He’s young, left-sided, and physically dominant, all traits that could thrive at Anfield. But at £41 million, there will be pressure for him to perform quickly. That’s not always easy for defenders arriving from a different league.

Still, Liverpool cannot afford to stand still. The combination of Van Dijk’s age, Konaté’s contract status and Gomez’s injury record has left the club walking a tightrope. Fans expect Richard Hughes to act before the window shuts.

Koulierakis may not be a household name yet, but neither was Van Dijk when he arrived from Southampton. If the recruitment team believe in him, now is the time to move.