Liverpool manager Arne Slot with Virgil van Dijk. (REUTERS/Peter Powell)
Liverpool are flying high under Arne Slot.
After storming to the Premier League title in 2024/25, the Reds doubled down in the summer window, flexing their financial and pulling power to reinforce across the pitch.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez arrived to strengthen the full-back positions, Florian Wirtz brought his creativity to midfield, while Hugo Ekitike added further depth in attack. The landmark signing, however, was Alexander Isak, a player Liverpool pursued relentlessly before finally prising him away from Newcastle United.
Three games into the 2025/26 campaign, it already looks like money well spent — Liverpool sit top of the table with three wins from three.
But while the first team looks formidable, the club’s recruitment team are already laying the groundwork for the future.
Liverpool Eye Ajax Starlet Bouwman
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman, an 18-year-old centre-back widely regarded as one of the most “exciting” young prospects in European football.
Standing 6’2″, Bouwman has drawn praise for his blend of physicality, tactical intelligence, and composure on the ball. A product of Ajax’s famed academy, he made his Eredivisie debut in August against SC Telstar, stepping in for the injured Josip Sutalo and helping his side to a clean sheet in a 2-0 win.
Though it remains his only senior appearance so far, the teenager’s maturity and ability to slot seamlessly into Ajax’s possession-heavy style have already drawn attention from elite clubs across Europe — with Liverpool among those circling.
Should the Reds make a move, Bouwman could soon find himself playing alongside his idol, Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking to Ajax’s official channels, the youngster admitted: “His composure on the ball, his technique, his passing, and of course his defending. It’s really everything about his presence.”
That admiration could play into Liverpool’s hands, with the Dutchman not hiding his career ambitions.
“The top four of the Premier League is my ultimate dream,” Bouwman revealed. “Although playing at the top in Spain or another major footballing country would also be amazing.”
About the Author
