Virgil van Dijk linked with surprise summer transfer as Liverpool identify £90m replacement
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk could leave the club as soon as this summer and the club have already made moves to secure his replacement.
In their last five matches, Liverpool have conceded just two goals, keeping three clean sheets, showcasing that the club's defence appears to be at its very best.
As always, Van Dijk has been a pillar for Liverpool at the back, prompting reports that Italian giants AC Milan is preparing a major move to sign the Dutchman in 2027.
READ MORE: Liverpool planning shock January move to re-sign player they sold just one year ago
Virgil van Dijk 'will arrive at Milan' amid transfer links
While the emergence of new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo no doubt plays a role, Van Dijk's performances have been central to Liverpool's success this season.
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The Liverpool captain has immediately clicked with new centre back partner Jacquet, allowing them to keep three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League.
But, despite his continued importance to Liverpool, rumours linking him with a summer exit don't appear to be going away, with a new report from Italian journalist Carlo Pellegatti suggesting a move to AC Milan is growing increasingly certain.
“Every now and then, people make fun of me for saying Van Dijk would join, but then they had done the same the January before Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived," Pellegatti claimed via Football Italia
“I continue to say that Gerry Cardinale (Milan’s owner) made clear: ‘Either we get him now by paying or next year for free.’ I said that Van Dijk will arrive at Milan sooner or later.
“We’ll see if Cardinale changes his mind or not, but I can assure you it was not just a name I pulled out of thin air.”
As it stands, Van Dijk's Liverpool contract is set to expire at the end of the season, having signed a two-year extension back in April 2025.
Despite the fact he will be 36 by the time his Liverpool contract expires, it's hard to imagine the Merseyside club won't offer him new terms if he continues to perform as he has been so far this season.
But if a new deal isn't agreed then it blows the door wide open for the Netherlands captain to join whatever club he wants as a free agent next year, furthering AC Milan's hopes of landing the statement signing in the summer.
Liverpool identify Virgil van Dijk replacement ahead of AC Milan move
If Van Dijk is to leave Liverpool this summer, it would no doubt be seen as a major blow to the club, especially if he is able to leave on a free transfer, following the likes of former centre back partner Ibrahima Konate and fellow club legend Mohamed Salah.
However, another report from CaughtOffside has claimed that Liverpool are already starting to work on a replacement for Van Dijk in the left-centre back position, and they've not had to look far to find their man.
The report claims that the Reds are big fans of Van Dijk's compatriot Micky van de Ven and would be willing to make a quick move this summer to bring him straight into the starting team should their captain leave.
It is believed that Manchester United are also considering a move for the Tottenham Hotspur star this summer, but should a transfer battle break out, it is believed Liverpool would be the likely winners.
But a move for Van de Ven isn't likely to be cheap, with the report adding that a fee of around £80m-£90million would be needed to secure the 25-year-old's signature, making him the most expensive defender in Premier League history.
Topics: Virgil Van Dijk, Premier League, Transfer News, AC Milan, Liverpool
Ben McCrum