Van still the man

> Virgil is priority ahead of Lemar on a busy final day of the transfer window

LIVERPOOL were switching all their focus to signing Virgil van Dijk after agreeing a deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. That’s according to Liverpool-based journalist Graham Beecroft who said the Reds were set for a busy final day of the transfer window.

The announcement that RB Leipzig had agreed a deal for Naby Keita to move to Anfield on Monday kicked off a flurry of transfer interest on Merseyside.

Liverpool have had two huge bids for Thomas Lemar rejected from Monaco but talks are ongoing over a potential move.

And the Merseyside club continued their spending spree by agreeing a fee for OxladeChamberlain yesterday.

The England international is expected to be revealed as a Liverpool player at some point today after undergoing a medical last night.

But Beecroft believes Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impending arrival raises questions over whether Liverpool will chase after either Lemar or Van Dijk.

“It’s an interesting signing and it does raise the question about Thomas Lemar,” Beecroft told talkSPORT.

“Will Liverpool go ahead and try to sign the Monaco flyer after Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed?

“I’m not 100% certain on this. I fancy they might go for him but the priority, if they can get him across the line, is Virgil van Dijk.

“Again there is a question mark over that one so it’s going to be an interesting 24 hours to the deadline as far as those three players are concerned.”

Liverpool were still persisting with their £74m (RM407.6m) pursuit of Lemar, having already spent around £40m (RM220.3m) on OxladeChamberlain. It looked set to be their biggest ever transfer window.

Although the Anfield club had initially been weighing up which of the two to go for as they also maintain an interest in Southampton’s Van Dijk, it was decided over the course of yesterday to continue trying to sign Lemar.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has been keen to greatly deepen the squad after last season’s title challenge faded amid absences after Christmas, with this season also bringing the added complication of a Champions League campaign, so has been keen to bring in both.

Monaco have already brought in a potential alternative to Lemar in Keita Balde from Lazio, and Liverpool now feel they can get a deal done for the 21-year-old winger for cash plus Divock Origi, with the total value coming to around £74m.

There had been reports of tentative interest from Barcelona in Lemar, but that has been seen as no more than posturing because of the Catalan club’s own ongoing pursuit of Philippe Coutinho. Liverpool however remain steadfast that Coutinho will not be allowed leave the club this summer.

The Anfield club could yet face competition from Arsenal for Lemar, although that entirely depends on whether Arsene Wenger finally agrees to sell Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City and thereby needs a replacement. – The Independent