Spanish giants Real Madrid are targeting a move for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk next summer, according to reports.
Los Blancos pulled off a similar trick when they managed to prize Ibrahima Konate away from Anfield for free and, with Van Dijk's contract set to expire at the end of the season, history could repeat itself.
The Dutchman put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension in April 2025, but there has so far been no suggestion that he will be awarded a new deal with the Reds.
Real Madrid have altered their transfer strategy since the return of Jose Mourinho and, as per Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Van Dijk is being lined up as a potential option at the heart of their defence.
As well as Konate, Madrid also opted to bring in Bernardo Silva on a free transfer over the summer. Getting experience into the squad was clearly a priority for Mourinho, with Denzel Dumfies and Marc Cucurella also making their way to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Van Dijk is currently into his ninth season on Merseyside after arriving for £75m from Southampton in 2018 and was handed the armband when Jordan Henderson left the club in 2023.
Despite his age, Van Dijk remains a constant in the Liverpool backline, starting 36, 37 and 38 matches in each of the last three Premier League seasons. Andoni Iraola's arrival as manager has not altered that fact either; Van Dijk starting all five league games so far in this campaign.
Real Madrid still have plenty of centre-back options, even despite reports linking them with a move for Van Dijk. As well as former teammate Konate, there is also former Premier League duo Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger, Brazil's Eder Militao and youngster Raul Asencio.
However, Rudiger's contract is also set to expire in the summer of 2027 and his future in the Spanish capital is very much up in the air.
