Barcelona are planning a defensive overhaul during the summer window, and according to the latest reports, Hansi Flick is keen on bringing in Virgil van Dijk.
With his Liverpool contract set to expire, Van Dijk will be a free agent in the summer, and Barcelona are preparing to make a move for him. To facilitate this signing, the club’s management is reportedly willing to offload Ronald Araujo to make room in the squad.
Van Dijk has been a key figure at Liverpool, making over 300 appearances for the club and winning every major trophy during his six-year tenure at Anfield. However, it’s likely that the Dutch defender will depart at the end of the season because he’s yet to be offered a contract extension.
Should Barcelona Sign Virgil van Dijk?
Ronald Araujo was a crucial player for Barcelona last season, but under Hansi Flick, the Uruguayan has not seen much game time.
This season, he has made just seven appearances across all competitions and has missed 22 games and 181 days of football due to a hamstring injury. Barca have done brilliantly with him which is why Flick seems to have made up his mind about the 25-year-old’s future.
Flick is looking for an experienced central defender who can lead the team, but it’s debatable whether Barcelona should invest in a 33-year-old.
Van Dijk remains at the top of his game for Liverpool, having played every Premier League match this season. However, he will turn 34 in July, and at best, he has one or maybe two high-level seasons left.
Ideally, Flick would want a centre-back who can anchor the defence for the next four to five years, something Van Dijk cannot provide.
Barcelona are going through a major financial crisis and in such a scenario if they can sell Araujo for around €65-70 million, it will be a job well done. The Uruguayan’s contract expires in 2031 which means Barca can quote all sorts of crazy figures for him.
The Catalans are unlikely to pass up the opportunity of signing Van Dijk given that he would be available for free.
Will Liverpool Offer a New Contract to Van Dijk?
Liverpool still maintain a strong positive relationship with Van Dijk and his representatives, so a contract renewal can still be possible
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that talks have taken place between the two parties, but no concrete decision has been made.
“It is true that the agents of Virgil van Dijk were sitting next to Liverpool’s director of football, Richard Hughes, during the game against Tottenham,” Romano said.
“There is still a very good conversation, a very good relationship between Liverpool and the agents of Virgil van Dijk. At the moment, the decision has still not been made. But the conversations continue.”
Van Dijk has remained tight-lipped regarding his future but with each passing week, it seems like the Dutch international will be wearing new colours next season.
