Liverpool have already held talks with Southampton about a big-money move for defender Virgil van Dijk, according to Football Whispers.
What’s the story?
Van Dijk has been linked to a number of top Premier League sides over the last few months, and Liverpool have always been among the pack.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton have also emerged in the rumour mill, but these latest reports suggest that Liverpool are leading the race.
Football Whispers reports that the Merseyside outfit are willing to break their transfer record to seal Van Dijk’s signature, and have already held discussions about a deal with the Saints.
The coastal club would ideally want a fee in the region of £50m, but Football Whispers understands that £40m would be considered.
Is it a perfect match?
Liverpool are crying out for improvements in defence due to their poor displays at the back throughout the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side can be scintillating going forward, but they have been vulnerable plenty of times when defending.
At the moment, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip seem to be Klopp’s first choice centre-back pairing, but they have struggled to form a slid partnership due to injuries.
Before Van Dijk’s injury problems, the Netherlands international was consistently strong at the back for Southampton and has strong leadership qualities.
The 25-year-old is strong in the air and is reliable when it comes to making clearances.
Having him in the heart of defence would provide much stronger protection for the goalkeeper, particularly as he has the ability to intercept passes.
From Southampton’s point of view, they should do everything they can to try to keep Van Dijk at St Mary’s, because losing him after letting Jose Fonte join West Ham United in January could spell trouble.
It is not yet known whether Liverpool’s reported pursuit will be successful, but expect Van Dijk’s name to be a regular feature in the gossip pages this summer.
[ad_pod id=’playwire’ align=’center’]
