Van Dijk’s wages pose major obstacle as Juventus and Real Madrid links grow
Virgil van Dijk is being linked with a move to Juventus, but significant doubts remain over whether the Italian club could afford the Liverpool captain.
The Dutch defender continues to attract attention in Serie A, with Juventus emerging as another potential destination as he enters the final season of his current contract. However, the financial demands of a deal remain a substantial obstacle.
Van Dijk earns approximately £350,000 per week at Liverpool, and his agreement expires in June 2027. That leaves open the possibility that this season could be his last at Anfield, although the latest transfer speculation offers little certainty about his next step.
Those familiar with the situation have questioned how Juventus could accommodate a financial package of that size, with some regarding a move as unrealistic under the present circumstances.
The links echo previous suggestions that AC Milan could pursue the 35-year-old. Milan have repeatedly been credited with interest, but concerns over affordability have consistently accompanied discussions about a possible switch to Italy.
Even if Van Dijk becomes available without a transfer fee, his salary would remain a major consideration for any interested club.
Real Madrid could present a different proposition.
The Spanish giants have also been linked with the centre-back, and their recent recruitment of Liverpool defenders provides a clear reason for the speculation.
Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold as his Liverpool contract approached its end and subsequently brought in Ibrahima Konate in similar circumstances. That recent history makes Van Dijk a plausible player for them to consider as his own agreement runs down.
Nevertheless, those connections do not establish that a transfer is imminent, and the defender’s future remains unresolved.
Van Dijk has been central to Liverpool’s fortunes since arriving from Southampton for £75 million in January 2018. His leadership and performances have made him one of the club’s most influential players of the modern era.
The prospect of his departure therefore carries considerable significance for Liverpool as well as potential suitors.
For now, however, the clearest obstacle concerns the Italian interest. Juventus may be featuring more prominently in the rumours, but there remains no obvious answer to the question of how they would finance a deal for a player on Van Dijk’s current wages.
