Milan aim to strengthen their defensive unit with important names. Sporting’s Portuguese defender is one of coach Amorim’s wishes, while Liverpool’s Dutchman is seen as an option for the summer transfer market.
Milan are planning a transfer window with significant investment, and two well-known names in European football have made it onto the plans of the red-and-black directors: Gonçalo Inácio and Virgil van Dijk.
According to reports in the Portuguese media, the Sporting Lisbon defender and captain has returned to the Italian club’s radar. A Bola writes that Milan could attempt to sign him as early as the January transfer window, as Inácio fits coach Ruben Amorim’s playing philosophy.
Sporting, however, have a strong negotiating position, as the player’s contract contains a €60 million release clause. In the red-and-black camp, they hope to reach an agreement for a lower sum.
The situation is different for Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool’s Dutch defender is another name liked by Milan’s directors, including Gerry Cardinale and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the possibility of Van Dijk leaving Liverpool next summer, when his contract is expected to expire, could turn him into a concrete target for the red-and-blacks.
However, the race for the 35-year-old’s services is expected to be strong, with interest also from Turkish clubs. To convince the Dutchman, Milan must present him with an ambitious project, with ambitions for the championship title.