Liverpool narrow favourites to sign Southampton’s Van Dijk
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Virgil van Dijk is quickly becoming a man in demand. The Southampton defender has already been linked with Manchester City and Manchester United, and now Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton want the centre-half too.
Reports today claim both Jurgen Klopp and Ronald Koeman see the Dutch international as the answer to their defensive problems. The latter hoping to reunite with the man he brought to Southampton from Celtic last year.
Meanwhile, it’s believed Pep Guardiola is beginning to view Van Dijk as Vincent Kompany’s potential successor.
The former Groningen man has played every Premier League match for Southampton since joining last summer, and hasn’t missed a minute of the Saints’ season this term.
At 6ft 4in, the 25-year-old brings a towering presence to any back-line, while 26 career goals highlight his attributes at the other end of the pitch too.
With the January transfer window looming, Southampton have slapped a £40m price tag on their star defender in a bid to ward off potential suitors, whose contract with the south coast outfit extends to 2022.
The bookies make it 7/4 Van Dijk will move in January, but at 8/11 for a summer transfer, it seems the Saints will lose out eventually.
Where he might go remains to be seen however, with the betting suggesting a close fight.
Everton, despite the Koeman connection, are at at 10/3.
Jose Mourinho meanwhile is 9/2 to bring the centre-half to Old Trafford.
Van Dijk’s reputation is rapidly rising, and a big-money move is evermore likely with Southampton seemingly destined to lose another star.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
