Liverpool are reportedly competing with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona for the signing of highly-rated Brighton centre-back Luka Vuskovic.

The 19-year-old Croatian defender has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players so far this season, shining for an in-form Seagulls side.

Vuskovic’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed among some of the top clubs in Europe, and now it looks as though Liverpool are in the mix to snap him up.

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim that the Reds “are the latest club to show interest” in the Brighton star, with Madrid and Barca also eyeing him up.

Vuskovic is described as “an exciting target” who could replace Virgil van Dijk in the “long-term”, with Liverpool’s captain out of contract next summer, and now 35 years of age.

Could Luka Vuskovic be a perfect signing for Liverpool?

Vuskovic deserves all the praise he has received this season, considering how well he is performing as a Premier League regular as a teenager, with centre-back partner Lewis Dunk saying:

“He’s settling in really well. He’s obviously come in and hit the ground running. But I’m sure he can get better and be a top, top, top defender in the future. He’s played in Germany and I don’t know how many international games [for Croatia], so he’s played at a high level already.

“It’s not like he’s been thrown in at the deep end. He’s handled the physicality of the Premier League very well so far. “We’re just going to need to keep building a partnership and I’ll enjoy playing alongside him. I’m going to keep helping him improve and see where this partnership can go.”

It is easy to see why Liverpool would want to sign Vuskovic, with the 10-cap Croatia international averaging four aerial duel wins and completing 90% of his passes in the league this season, showing his quality in various areas of his game.

He would be another fantastic young centre-back addition for the Reds, joining Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, but if he does arrive in 2027, the hope is that Van Dijk is still there for at least a year with him.