Liverpool have reportedly identified Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni as a possible replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
The Merseysiders positive season is at risk of being dampened should they lose stars Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk, who are all set to leave Anfield when their contracts expire in the summer.
Van Dijk insisted after the Reds' 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final on Sunday that there would be news on his future before the end of the season, but doubts continue to grow with the end of 2024-25 approaching.
Boss Arne Slot faces the daunting prospect of having to replace his captain in the upcoming transfer window, especially as links to Paris Saint-Germain have intensified in the past days.
However, Fichajes report that Liverpool have landed on Inter's Bastoni as a replacement, and they also claim that the Reds are willing to offer £62m to secure his signature.
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What are Bastoni's strengths and weaknesses?
Bastoni has won the Serie A title twice with Inter - in 2021-22 and 2023-24 - and he could be set to win his third title given the Italian side are currently in first place.
The 25-year-old plays on the left of a back three and his biggest strength is undoubtedly his immense passing ability, with the centre-back having attempted significantly more 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 vital to Inter's impressive Champions League campaign in which they conceded just one goal in the league phase despite facing teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
While Bastoni is an excellent duellist on the ground, he only 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 replaced?
Though Bastoni is arguably even better on the ball than Van Dijk, it is difficult to see how he can come into the Liverpool XI and replicate the Dutchman's impact.
Few centre-backs can claim to be as well-rounded as the Reds captain, with his dominance in the air, on the ground and in a high line arguably making him one of the world's best defenders.
Centre-backs such as Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck have been linked to Anfield in the past weeks, but neither are particularly dominant in the air.
It should also be noted that Liverpool failed to retain their Premier League title when Van Dijk missed the majority of the 2020-21 season, so perhaps Reds fans will have to accept that any replacement would be a downgrade.
Lewis Nolan
