Inter Milan is believed to be interested in signing Virgil van Dijk as a free agent this summer. Like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk’s Reds contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and although he said earlier in the campaign that he wanted to extend his stay on Merseyside, an agreement is yet to be reached over an extension.
The Dutch center-back remains among the best players in the world in his position, and an indicator of that is that one of the best defensive sides in the world is apparently interested in signing him.
Caught Offside claims Inter president Beppe Marotta is leading Inter’s pursuit of Van Dijk, whose only experience of top-level club soccer has come in England. The chance for Van Dijk to test himself in another big European league could appeal to him ahead of his 34th birthday during the off-season.
It is claimed that Inter has asked for information on Van Dijk as his contract impasse with Liverpool continues and that he is one of a number of center-backs that the Nerazzurri is considering in the upcoming transfer window.
Speaking last September, Van Dijk said he was keen to stay at Liverpool until at least 2026: “At both teams (Liverpool and the Dutch national team) I am still Virgil van Dijk, the big leader! And I certainly want to remain that for the next two years.”
After Liverpool was eliminated from the Champions League by PSG earlier this month, however, Van Dijk said: “I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face.”
(Image: Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Speaking on the same day, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot stated his desire for the Reds captain to remain at the club next term. “The only thing I know is that I want Virgil to be here next season,“ Slot said. “All the rest, talks about his contract, that’s not what I do over here.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool is not expected to rekindle its interest in Martin Zubimendi, with the Spaniard set move to Arsenal as it was widely reported earlier this year.
TeamTalk reports that, while Arsenal did not fully finalize a move in January, it has put in extensive legwork on a summer deal, and Zubimendi is still likely to move to the Emirates — although Real Madrid is also said to be interested.
Liverpool made Zubimendi its principal transfer target last summer, but the midfielder ultimately U-turned on a switch to Anfield in order to stay with boyhood club Real Sociedad. For its part, Liverpool has been very happy with Ryan Gravenberch, who was shunted into the holding midfield role after the Zubimendi rejection but has excelled there, emerging as one of the most important players in Slot’s team.
