Van Dijk has debatably been one of the Liverpool's greatest Premier League defenders, after he joined from Southampton in January 2018. But 270 appearances later, questions have been raised over how long he will have left at Anfield.
The Dutch defender's contract expires in June 2025, and a replacement must be considered amid reports of him debating his future this summer.
However, according to Barnes, the Reds and new boss Slot don't have to look far, as young Englishman Quansah fits the bill and could develop into a top centre-half.
Van Dijk is absent from Liverpool's preseason tour of the US after being given some time off after Euro 2024, and has addressed his future this summer, saying"I will think carefully about what I want, at club level and as an international player."
While The Athletic report that those comments haven't worried Liverpool's hierarchy, if Van Dijk were to leave this year or next, then Barnes believes that Quansah could fill his boots, telling bettingexpert.com: “I think Konate is still the first choice next to van Dijk because he’s got the experience and the quality but Quansah didn’t let anyone down last season.
"He played with assurance, calmness, and maturity. So even if he isn’t the first choice next season, in the long term, he’s got a bright future and with van Dijk getting older, he could be the future first-choice Liverpool centre-back. With what he’s shown, he can be a backup or a starter.”
The club clearly values Quansah, too. When the Reds approached Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon in June, hoping to negotiate a price in light of the Magpies' books not being balanced before the league's PSR deadline, a swap deal involving the 21-year-old was mentioned.
Quansah was called up to England's provisional Euros squad
Slot's side quickly rebuked this, indicating that they feel Quansah is off-limits to potential buyers, highlighting his importance to the club.
Quansah's rise began just a year after a loan spell in League One with Bristol Rovers, scoring the final goal of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool tenure in what was the defender's 33rd outing.
He impressed so heavily in this short space of time, earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional Euro 2024 squad. He didn't make the final cut, however, but reacted professionally and indicated that he may be someone who could fill Van Dijk's giant boots.
“I’m always a person who wants to improve and kick on," he said. “I look at the positives and the negatives, and I just try to take it all in and try to improve for the next season really. That’s what my reflecting sort of told me. It was just about how to kick on and how to be the best version of myself.
“It’s more of the same and to just keep improving. Like I said before, try to be the best version of myself, keep getting better and better on the training pitch, be a sponge, and take in everything that I can.”
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