£70m VAN DIJK DEAL BACK ON

Klopp could still Kop Saints star Roy has a big lift

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LIVERPOOL have been put on red alert after Mauricio Pellegrino refused to rule out selling Southampton star Virgil van Dijk in January.

Dutch defender Van Dijk handed in a transfer request in the summer to try and force through a dream move to Anfield.

Kop boss Jurgen Klopp is still desperate to sign £70m-rated Van Dijk to solve his side’s defensive problems.

And he has now been given a boost in his long-running pursuit, with Saints’ stance appearing to soften.

When asked if Van Dijk would stay at St Mary’s beyond the next transfer window, Pellegrino said: “I don’t know, I can’t control the market.

Tapping

“When we talk about money, everybody has got a price. The biggest teams have got money. This is a question for our owners.

“Everybody is trying to bring the best players possible to their club.”

Van Dijk, 26, is back in Pellegrino’s good books having initially been forced to train alone after Saints accused Liverpool of tapping him up in the summer.

And he will get the chance to show Klopp what he is missing when his side travel to Merseyside tomorrow.

Pellegrino is confident that his former captain, who has not worn the armband since the transfer saga began, will be fully focused.

The Argentine said: “Virgil is training well and thinking about our club.” ®