Richard Hughes has finally found his £70m Van Dijk replacement | OneFootball

Times are rapidly changing at Liverpool.

This summer the Reds will wave goodbye to Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. And in summer 2027 it is expected that other survivors of the Jurgen Klopp era - Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk - will leave at the end of their contracts.

Giorgi Mamardashvili has been acquired as a long-term replacement to Alisson - ready to step into the breach when the Brazilian packs his bags.

But a successor to Van Dijk has yet to arrive.

The 34-year-old has been a stalwart of the Premier League champions’ backline since 2018 - becoming the world’s best defender and winning a plethora of team honours.

Time waits for no man and it will be soon time for a new player to take over. Richard Hughes has now identified the ideal candidate to replace Van Dijk according to a report in Fichajes.

Liverpool want deal for £70m Bastoni

And the Anfield club are reported to be keen to beat Barcelona to the punch for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

“Liverpool have decided to accelerate their pursuit of Alessandro Bastoni,” the report reads.

“The English club's management identifies the 26-year-old Italian international as the natural successor to Virgil van Dijk.”

Barcelona are operating under very tight financial margins and are going to have to sell some of their big earners before acquiring new talents - potentially handing Liverpool an advantage for the £70m-rated Italy international.

“In this race, the Anfield side intends to snatch the position away from FC Barcelona, ​​capitalizing on any financial or strategic uncertainties the Catalan club may face,” the report reads.

“The left-footed centre-back's market value is currently around €80 million, a considerable sum for any budget.”

Alessandro Bastoni: Situation summary

Alessandro Bastoni is a 26-year-old left-footed centre-back for Inter and Italy, widely viewed as one of Serie A’s elite defenders.

Standing around 1.90m and naturally left-sided, he’s become a lock at left centre-back in Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2, dovetailing with Federico Dimarco for club and country.

On the ball, Bastoni is press-resistant, progressive and creative, stepping into midfield and even the final third to break lines with vertical passes or swinging crosses from the left half-space.

He routinely starts Inter’s build-up, drawing pressure before exploiting the space he’s created. Out of possession, he marries aggressive front-foot defending with solid aerial dominance, using his reach and timing to win duels and defend the box.

Contract-wise, Bastoni is tied to Inter until 2028, but his form has attracted Liverpool and Barcelona, with Inter reportedly holding out for €60–80m and Barça already exploring terms with the player.

If he does move, a top-tier Champions League contender—with a vacancy at left-sided centre-back—is his natural next step.