Liverpool potentially have the advantage in the race to sign Virgil van Dijk with news the Southampton star is interested in working with Jurgen Klopp, reports The Daily Mirror.
Van Dijk hasn’t played for Southampton since suffering ankle ligament damage in January but is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League and interest in him has been high all season.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have both been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old but Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola could miss out on his signature with Van Dijk reportedly favouring a move to link up with Klopp.
The charismatic Liverpool boss is preparing for a summer of huge investment at the club after securing the club’s place back in the Champions League for next season and the signing of Van Dijk would be a huge statement of intent from the Reds, particularly if they match Southampton’s £50m valuation.
To illustrate what a colossal player Van Dijk has been in the Premier League since joining Southampton from Celtic in 2015, only the likes of Eden Hazard (18), Alexis Sanchez (16), Harry Kane (15), Kevin De Bruyne (13), Philippe Coutinho, Riyad Mahrez (both 12) and Sergio Aguero (11) have won more WhoScored Man of the Match awards than Van Dijk (10) in that time. It’s even more impressive when you consider the Netherlands international has missed almost half of this season through injury.
For more stats on Virgil van Dijk, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
