Liverpool reportedly title a doable exchange for Virgil van Dijk from Serie A in the scenario that the Dutchman departs Anfield.
Liverpool be pleased reportedly identified Inter Milan centre-support Alessandro Bastoni as a doable exchange for Virgil van Dijk.
The Merseysiders particular season is at probability of being dampened must they lose stars Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk, who are all space to leave Anfield when their contracts expire in the summertime.
Van Dijk insisted after the Reds’ 2-1 defeat in opposition to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup closing on Sunday that there may per chance possibly per chance be news on his future before the reside of the season, but doubts continue to develop with the reside of 2024-25 drawing near.
Boss Arne Slot faces the daunting prospect of getting to replace his captain in the upcoming switch window, especially as links to Paris Saint-Germain be pleased intensified in the past days.
Nonetheless, Fichajes record that Liverpool be pleased landed on Inter’s Bastoni as a exchange, and they also also claim that the Reds are willing to provide £62m to genuine his signature.
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What are Bastoni’s strengths and weaknesses?
Bastoni has gained the Serie A title twice with Inter – in 2021-22 and 2023-24 – and he is seemingly to be space to win his third title given the Italian aspect are presently in first assign.
The 25-yr-worn plays on the left of a support three and his largest strength is indubitably his huge passing skill, with the centre-support having tried deal extra passes (1,948) than any of his teammates (Nicolo Barella – 1,478).
He also excels when defending deeper in a lower block, and he was critical to Inter’s impressive Champions League campaign whereby they conceded correct one draw in the league phase regardless of going by groups such as Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
While Bastoni is an wonderful duellist on the ground, he most fascinating wins 1.4 aerial duels per 90 in Serie A with a success rate of 63%, whereas Van Dijk wins 3.1 aerial duels per 90 in the Premier League with a success rate of 71%.
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Can Van Dijk be changed?
Even though Bastoni is arguably even better on the ball than Van Dijk, it’s no longer easy to leer how he can attain into the Liverpool XI and replicate the Dutchman’s affect.
Few centre-backs can claim to be as effectively-rounded as the Reds captain, along with his dominance in the air, on the ground and in a excessive line arguably making him one in every of the arena’s most fascinating defenders.
Centre-backs such as Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck be pleased been linked to Anfield in the past weeks, but neither are critically dominant in the air.
It must also be noteworthy that Liverpool failed to retain their Premier League title when Van Dijk overlooked practically the total 2020-21 season, so presumably Reds fans have to bag that any exchange may per chance possibly per chance be a downgrade.
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