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, according to Liverpool Echo.
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.
And Lazio sporting director Ighli Tare has revealed that centre-back Hoedt has been promised first-team football by Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino – and this will jeopardise Van Dijk’s place in the starting XI.
The Dutch centre-back has handed in a transfer request at Southampton amid huge interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool.
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.
Despite Van Dijk’s desire to part ways with the Saints, the club bosses are not willing to let him leave this summer.
And 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.
His current defensive options are – Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez
Liverpool have already roped in Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, Andrew Robertson from Hull and Mohamed Salah from Roma so far this summer.
However, the Reds will have to act quickly as the transfer window closes at the end of this month.
