Liverpool have been accused by Southampton of making an illegal approach for Virgil van Dijk.
It appears that this summer’s first transfer saga will revolve around Virgil van Dijk’s proposed move from Southampton to Liverpool.
The 25-year-old center-back announced yesterday that he wishes to play for Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool in the Champions League next season. Should he join the Reds then he will become the most expensive player in their history.
Less than a day later, though, his current club have reported Liverpool to the Premier League after alleging that they made an illegal approach for the Dutch international.
This seems to be an unusual move by the south coast club. Liverpool are not the only team who have been linked with van Dijk. Both Manchester City and Chelsea have also expressed an interest in the defender. Should Southampton make a report regarding those clubs too? Or is it just a case of going after the team that van Dijk has requested to join?
It is also possible the Saints have made this move in an attempt to appease their fans. It can’t be easy seeing your team’s best players leave year after year.
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The two clubs have a recent history of cordial transfer dealing too, so this report could harm that relationship. In the last three years, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane have all moved north from Southampton to Merseyside.
The Saints may hold all of the cards here, as they have van Dijk secured with a long contract. Once the player asks to leave though, and there is a team willing to break the bank for his services, there seems to be little to gain by dragging the process out. Southampton’s report is unlikely to prevent van Dijk from lining up for Liverpool in 2017-18.