IGNORE THE PRICE OF VAN
Klopp’s message to Kop fans ready to judge world-record buy
JURGEN KLOPP wants Liverpool fans to forget Virgil van Dijk’s record £75million fee and focus on his ability.
Klopp is unconcerned that the Merseysiders have smashed their transfer record to make Van Dijk the world’s most-expensive defender. The Liverpool boss says the huge fee was down to the market and urged Reds fans to concentrate on how good the Holland centre-half is. Van Dijk, 26, will officially join from Southampton on January 1 and when asked about what he will bring to Liverpool, Klopp said: “Quality. “That’s why we got him, that’s why we were interested in him. It’s quite difficult at the moment because technically he’s still a Southampton player. “We don’t make the prices, the market does. Liverpool supporters should forget about the price. “We only talk about the player and what he can bring in – the quality, the mentality, the character. That’s why we are really happy about it.” Van Dijk has only played 16 games for Southampton in 2017 because of a knee injury and his stand-off with the club over his attempts to force through a move to Anfield in summer. He will first be available for Liverpool for their FA Cup clash with Everton on January 5 and Klopp says he will not rush him into action. The former Celtic star, who has agreed a £180,000-a-week deal at Anfield, was left out of Saints’ last two matchday squads while they negotiated his transfer with Liverpool and Klopp says he needs to build up his match fitness. “Virgil hasn’t had the best first half to the season,” said the German. “He was out injured for a long time and we all know about the things that happened last summer. “He’s a tall player and they always need a little bit longer, especially after being out for nine months, but that’s no problem. “We already have quality in that position, so we don’t have to rush. He needs to adapt to our style of play, but we are 100 per cent sure he will do it.”