Liverpool are banking on Jurgen Klopp’s charisma to rope in £50m-rated Virgil van Dijk from Southampton this summer.
Liverpool have now joined Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for securing the services of the Dutch centre-back – with Antonio Conte in pole position to rope him in this summer.
However, there is a twist in the story and Liverpool have a golden opportunity to hijack van Dijk from under the noses of their rivals because the Dutch defender has shown interest in playing under former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp is ready to reveal that he wants van Dijk to anchor the Liverpool defence – that he can become a Reds legend one day and he is the only centre-back he is keen on roping in this summer.
Liverpool might face some difficulties to finalise the deal but with bonus of Champions League football, they now hope to lure him away to Merseyside.
All the four clubs have monitored the availability of van Dijk but Liverpool and Arsenal are ready to offer the best wage packet of around £200,000-a-week.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also in the race as both the clubs are desperate to rope in the talented defender this summer.
Van Dijk was even handed a Man City shirt in Southampton’s “Secret Santa” as a prank by his team mates last Christmas.
Southampton are adamant and have insisted that the Dutch defender is not for sale this summer but it is believed that they are holding out for the best offer to come their way.
But Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are desperate to sign him this summer as they look forward to bolster their squad before they start defending the Premier League title next season.
Conte believes that he is leading the race but Liverpool have a good chance – with Klopp desperate to bring back the glory old days at Anfield.
