Liverpool are reportedly willing to break their transfer fee record for the Saints defender.
According to numerous reports, including from James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Dutch international Virgil van Dijk may be headed to Anfield this summer. Southampton have apparently set the price tag on their center-back at £50 million, which would break Liverpool’s transfer record by a significant margin.
Liverpool’s current record is £35 million, which they paid to bring Andy Carroll over from Newcastle in 2011. The Reds also paid £34 million last summer to get their current leading scorer, Sadio Mane (also from Southampton).
Van Dijk, a 25-year-old center-back, has spent the last two years with the Saints, after three seasons in the Eredivisie with Groningen and another three in Scotland with Celtic. He’s made 25 appearances for the Saints this year, scoring three times, but hasn’t played since January with a foot injury. Van Dijk was named Southampton’s Player of the Season for 2015-16.
The young defender has also become an important member of the Dutch national team, with 12 caps since making his debut for the Netherlands in October 2015.
Several other Premier League clubs are interested in van Dijk, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all possible suitors. The opportunity to play in the Champions League is reportedly an important factor, though, hurting the case of seventh-place Arsenal.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be looking to shore up a back line that’s conceded 42 times in league play this season. For that reason, the Reds have also been linked to Burnley defender Michael Keane.
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As the season winds down and transfer rumors begin to heat up, Liverpool continue to be linked to many players. Most recently, Metro has reported that Real Madrid midfielder Isco could be one of Klopp’s targets for this summer.
Liverpool currently sit third in the Premier League, five points behind Tottenham and just two points ahead of fourth-place City (and three above Manchester United).