Arsenal have held talks with Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk about a transfer but the Dutch player wants to make a switch to Liverpool, according to reports.
Premier League giants Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, have all been linked with a swoop for the Dutch defender.
The Dutch centre-back has handed in a transfer request at Southampton amid huge interest from Chelsea and Liverpool and now Arsenal – and is yet to play for Southampton this season.
The Dutch defender, who signed a six-year deal last season, has also slammed Southampton’s repeated attempts to keep him at the club amid huge interest from top Premier League clubs.
And according to Daily Mail, Arsenal have now held talks with the Dutch defender over a move to the Emirates before the transfer window shuts this summer.
Sources close to the club have revealed that Shkodran Mustafi’s future at the North London club is growing increasingly uncertain and the Gunners now want to bolster the back-line by roping in Van Dijk.
But sources close to the player have revealed that Van Dijk wants to Move to Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are ready to resume their pursuit of long-time target Virgil van Dijk, according to reports.
Following Wesley Hoedt’s arrival at Southampton, Liverpool want to step up their chase for the £60million rated Dutch defender.
Southampton bosses have accentuated that Van Dijk will not be allowed to leave this summer, but Liverpool are now ready to pounce back if the Saints hierarchy change their stance.
Earlier, the Reds had to drop their interest in the Dutch defender after Southampton threatened them of FIFA action claiming they had illegally approached the 26-year-old player.
However, according to reports, Southampton might soften their stance and could allow Van Dijk to leave this summer after the arrival of Wesley Hoedt from Lazio this week.
It was clearly evident that Arsenal need to strengthen their back-line after a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday night if they want to finish in the top four.
Despite Van Dijk’s desire to part ways with the Saints, the club bosses are not willing to let him leave this summer.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino continues to insist Arsenal target Van Dijk will not be allowed to leave this summer.
“I think Virgil will be here on September 1,” he said.
Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger insisted last week that Van Dijk is staying put.
Ralph Krueger insisted that he would not succumb to pressure amid growing interest in their star player, saying: “Nobody is for sale that we don’t want to sell and so he is not for sale in this window. We have said it more than once.”
“Mauricio Pellegrino has done an amazing job of dealing with this situation. It has not disrupted our team.”
“It has not in any way caused a lack of focus in training, in the locker room, and of course everybody will open their arms when Virgil comes back and we go at it.”
Jurgen Klopp would have to splurge a whooping £60million to land Van Dijk this summer and sources reveal that former Dortmund manager is keen to bring the Dutchman at Anfield as he looks to bolster his back-four.
