Jürgen Klopp made the Holland international a transfer priority having guided Liverpool into the Champions League play-offs but faced competition from the Premier League champions, Chelsea, and Manchester City for the 25-year-old. However, Liverpool are willing to pay a world-record sum for a defender – expected to be around £60m – to break that resolve and ensure Van Dijk becomes the latest Southampton employee to depart for Anfield. Liverpool would regard Van Dijk’s arrival as significant given the interest from Chelsea and Pep Guardiola’s club. Van Dijk, who was also wanted at Everton by his former Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, has excelled in the Premier League since arriving from Celtic for £13m in 2015. Klopp believes Liverpool can challenge for next season’s Premier League title with a few important additions.

Source: The Guardian June 05, 2017 15:59 UTC