Van Dijk to Real Madrid: ‘Liverpool ace tipped to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold’
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk following teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is a “no-brainer” for the star centre-back, according to Tony Cascarino.
Former Chelsea striker Cascarino gave his thoughts in his column in The Times, as rumours of top Reds players’ exits from Anfield continue.
With only six months remaining on his contract, Van Dijk, along with Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, is now able to agree a pre-contract with foreign clubs.
This led to speculation that the Dutch defender could be on his way out of Anfield in the Summer, in a move to join Spanish champions, Real Madrid, who he has tipped to be “whispering” in Van Dijk’s ear in the same way they did with Antonio Rudiger before signing him from Chelsea in 2022.
Cascarino said: “It would make perfect sense for Real Madrid to sign Virgil van Dijk as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool when their contracts expire this summer…
“Real started work on signing Rüdiger long before he joined them. He was advised by them not to renew a deal with Chelsea in 2022. Why wouldn’t they be whispering compliments in Van Dijk’s ear now, telling him that he could be the lynchpin of their defence?
“They could match the wages offered by Liverpool and offer him a new challenge at the greatest club in the world. Their history is second to none. They have lifted the Champions League in five of the past nine seasons — including twice beating Van Dijk’s Liverpool in the final.”
Liverpool could face the task of replacing their three best players in the Summer
Football Insider Verdict
Van Dijk is not the only Liverpool star with just half-a-season remaining on their contracts, as Alexander-Arnold and Salah find themselves in the same position.
Despite Robbie Fowler suggesting that two of the trio have signed new deals, nothing has been announced publicly by the club.
Since signing for a world record fee for a defender [BBC Sport], Van Dijk has been nothing short of monumental for the club, leading them to Premier League and Champions League glory.
The Dutchman has had the least public noise surrounding him out of the trio, and there has been an expectation that he is most likely to sign a new deal.
However, as Cascarino suggests, Van Dijk has not indicated one way or the other (publicly) as to what his future holds.
Real Madrid are infamous for their love of star-power, whilst also remaining patient in order to sign players for free. Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger both joined the club after letting their contracts expire.
With their sights set on a Premier League title this season, the Reds will be looking to bolster their squad in January, and have been linked with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
In other news, Liverpool could make an “immediate” move for a Bayern star.
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