CHELSEA FACE A FIGHT TO LAND £50M VAN DIJK
LIVERPOOL ENTER RACE FOR BLUES TARGET AS THEY PUT CENTRE-HALF TOP OF THEIR WISH-LIST
LIVERPOOL have emerged as serious rivals to Chelsea to sign Virgil van Dijk if the defender leaves Southampton this summer.
Chelsea have been keen on Holland international Van Dijk for much of the season and are expected to intensify their interest at the end of the campaign but they may face serious competition from Liverpool.
Both clubs are in the market for at least one new centre-back and Van Dijk, 25, is top of their lists.
Southampton would demand a huge fee for Van Dijk — probably in the region of the £50million Manchester City paid Everton for John Stones last summer. Last December, Southampton boss Claude Puel was forced to deny reports that Van Dijk had a £25m release clause in his contract.
Van Dijk joined Saints from Celtic in September 2015 and signed a new contract the following May. That deal still has five years to run, meaning Southampton are in a strong negotiating position.
But Van Dijk, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since January 22, would be open to departing St Mary’s for one of the Premier League’s top clubs if given permission.
Van Dijk had established himself as one of the most impressive centrebacks in English football before his injury, and Manchester United and Manchester City also showed a tentative interest in January before he was sidelined.
It is believed Chelsea have identified Van Dijk for the right-side role in their three-man defence, currently occupied by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chelsea’s extra fixtures — they are virtual certainties to play in the Champions League next season, after their absence from Europe this term — means manager Antonio Conte is keen to add to his squad. The Italian is thought to have been promised nificant funds to do so.
If Liverpool fail to qualify for Europe’s main club competition, it will be more difficult to sign coveted players such as Van Dijk. Jurgen Klopp’s team are currently fourth in the Premier League, four points clear of Manchester United, who have two games in hand.
But Liverpool hope their rich history, exciting style of football and Klopp’s plan to restore them to the summit of the English game can persuade transfer targets to choose them over wealthier clubs such as Chelsea.
Former Southampton players Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren are key members of Klopp’s first-team squad.
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