Alessandro Bastoni must be the man to take over from Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, and here’s why - opinion
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Liverpool have to start thinking about life without captain Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires in 2027.The Reds had a big summer overhaul that saw some big stars left, but they equally kept other important players, with one of these being van Dijk.The club captain signed a two-year deal, but that does not mean they do not need to plan ahead, especially given his slight downturn in form this season.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Many names are being linked with a move, and one player Liverpool are said to be looking at is Alessandro Bastoni from Inter Milan.The Italian is held in very high regard in Serie A and is, arguably, one of the best in the world, with there being many reasons why he should be the heir to van Dijk’s throne.Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLiverpool need to go big on Virgil van Dijk’s replacementVan Dijk has been one of the best centre-backs in world football for many years now, with some even believing that he is the greatest.His transfer alone has helped revolutionise Liverpool and change the trajectory in which the club was going in, so it will be a sad day when he eventually leaves.But that is football, unfortunately, and life goes on, but Reds fans should not worry too much as if they get Bastoni, then they will be in safe hands.Due to the shoes needing to be filled, Liverpool cannot buy a one or a few cheap options to try and fill the void, so instead they need to go big on someone like Bastoni.The defender is still only 26 despite his vast experience, with his stature and leadership qualities being something that could make him the ‘new van Dijk’.READ MORE: Florian Wirtz’s dad reveals whether his son now regrets joining Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich Do you want Ibrahima Konate to sign a new contract and stay at Liverpool?
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images RTK understands that Bastoni could become available in the near future, although with his contract up in 2028, he would cost a lot of money, likely between £80m-£100m.Alessandro Bastoni is also a left-sided centre-backAnother reason why he is the perfect option is because he plays on the left side of defence, the same as van Dijk. This may seem insignificant but these types of players can be hard to come by, especially as he is left-footed too, something that will only help him in this position.He is decent on the ball too, just like van Dijk is, meaning that this transition may feel more seamless than people would think.Turning 27 in April, Bastoni would arrive at the peak of his powers and offer the Reds almost guaranteed success, something they need given the profile of player they would be replacing.