This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to Diaro Gol, Real want to offer one of four players to Liverpool, plus cash, in exchange for Virgil van Dijk.

What's the story?

The Reds signed the Netherlands international for £75m in January of last year, and now it seems that Florentino Perez wants to take the former Southampton man to his next club.

The Spanish outlet is reporting that Los Merengues are prepared to offer €120m (£102.4m) for the 28-year-old, plus the choice of one from four of their players: Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Isco or Luka Modric.

Insulting

Van Dijk is one of the main contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or, whilst he also picked up the PFA Player of the Year award last season. The former Celtic man, according to Vincent Kompany, is the greatest defender to ever grace the Premier League. Quite frankly, his stock couldn't be higher.

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That cannot be said for that quartet that has allegedly been lined up for use in a part-exchange deal. Bale looked to be on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer - Zinedine Zidane said as much - yet he somehow managed to keep his place in the 1998 World Cup winner's squad.

The Wales international has started six games in the Spanish top tier this term, but has once again suffered injury problems. Asensio and Isco are two others who have struggled with injury, with the former out for the best part of this campaign. The latter, meanwhile, has started just one game since returning from a biceps issue.

Modric, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, has started just three league games this campaign. Much like Bale, his best years seem to be behind him, especially at 34 years old. Although a decorated and talented player, he would be of little use to Liverpool right now.

In fact, it is the same for all of those players. Between them, they have 14 Champions League winners medals, but for Real to believe any of them could tempt the Reds to part ways with their star defender is insulting. It is unlikely they will be intrigued by this potential offer, and they should dismiss it with the disdain it deserves.