GdS: January arrivals and a return to the top – Cardinale’s strategy to land van Dijk

By: Ben Dixon

Gerry Cardinale wants to return AC Milan to the top and he hopes that adding another elite player next summer will help to achieve that goal.

With the signing of Luka Modric, and the subsequent quality that he’s shown since, Milan may tap into the experienced free agent market more. Of course, opportunities have to be right, but Cardinale is becoming more in favour of signing these types of players.

So, in the summer, they may look to Anfield instead of the Bernabeu, where Virgil van Dijk could become the new Luka Modric.

Calciomercato.com relays words from Gazzetta dello Sport, building on their report this morning of the interest in van Dijk. The move, it seems, would be pushed for by Cardinale and the American is already working up a plan.

In January, the Rossoneri will strengthen the defence, with Goncalo Inacio and Massire Sylla the favoured names currently. With these additions, the American would hope for a return to the Champions League, which would be essential to signing van Dijk.

So, with the mix of promising youth recruited in January, they would hope to finalise the defensive transformation with a world-class player next season. Cardinale remains convinced of van Dijk’s quality, and he can discuss a move as early as February 1.

With no sign of the stalemate at Anfield ending, the American – who holds a stake in Liverpool’s ownership – remains hopeful.