The Netherlands’ exit from the World Cup could help to accelerate AC Milan’s efforts to sign Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool this summer.
Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Luca Bianchin reports on the 34-year-old today in an interview with Milan News.
Milan dream of Liverpool captain
Reports over the last few weeks have insisted that Milan are dreaming of signing Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool this summer. They are not the only suitors either.
The Italian side are planning a major overhaul of their squad and have already spent big on a deal for striker Goncalo Ramos as evidence of that.
Milan News now report that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been floating the idea of the Dutch centre-back since the Spring. Any deal would be complicated, to say the least, but Van Dijk’s future at Anfield is currently in doubt as he only has a year left on his deal.
Now Bianchin has provided further details on what’s going on behind the scenes, including whether Milan will actually make a move for the Liverpool captain.
“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked whether the move is just an idea for Ibrahimovic.
“In La Gazzetta, we reported what we’d heard: in the spring, Ibrahimovic spoke openly within the club about his desire to bring Van Dijk to Milan, and the idea reached Cardinale. From here on, it will depend on the cost assessments and any reaction from Virgil and Liverpool.”
Milan ambition
He insists, though, that Milan have the desire and the ambition to sign a player like the Dutchman for new manager Ruben Amorim. That’s because of a change strategy behind the scenes.
“Cardinale changed his approach over the summer, as everyone has noticed: he stopped delegating and started taking action,” he added.
“Not just making decisions – himself, after consulting with his team. Gonçalo Ramos shows that certain parameters have changed and that there is a desire to prove they can do well.”
Difficult deal
Any deal is likely to be difficult to get done, despite Virgil van Dijk’s current contract status. But Bianchin believes negotiations could not progress thanks to the Netherlands’ elimination from the World Cup.
“Of course, there are many obstacles,” he concluded.
“Van Dijk’s signing fee, Liverpool’s stance – having already lost Konaté – and Virgil’s thoughts on his future. The Netherlands’ elimination from the World Cup may, at the very least, speed up the process.
“As far as we know, there are no negotiations currently underway. It is simply that Ibrahimovic and the club are keen to consider the move.”