Liverpool face up to hard bargaining for £60m Van Dijk

Liverpool are preparing to make Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world after the Dutchman decided he wants a summer move to Anfield.

Now the club will test the resolve of Southampton to keep the 25-year-old, who is likely to cost a record £60million should he leave.

Southampton have indicated they are ready to fight to retain Van Dijk and feel they can resist any offers. Van Dijk has not yet formally confirmed to his club he wants to move and Liverpool have not yet tabled a bid, but that will come soon. It has emerged the centre-back has opted to pursue a move to Anfield rather than Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal.

The Dutchman has been mulling over his options since the end of the season, having become one of the most coveted players in the Premier League, but, despite his intentions, a deal is not close and will require some tough negotiating.

Southampton signed Van Dijk from Celtic for £13 million two years ago, since when he has excelled to become the prime target of several Champions League clubs.

For Liverpool, luring Van Dijk would represent a major coup. He has been Jürgen Klopp’s main transfer priority this summer as he seeks to strengthen a much-criticised defence, but he knows the competition from Liverpool’s rivals is significant. Chelsea were especially interested and in recent days there were suggestions Manchester City had gained the upper hand because of their financial power.

But Liverpool have always hoped they could attract Van Dijk, particularly once they finished in the top four and could offer the potential of Champions League football. They believe the style of football under Klopp, allied to the long-term potential of the side, would be a determining factor.

There is no doubt Klopp’s presence has been fundamental in shifting the momentum the club’s way. Also, Van Dijk sees the similarities between the passion of the Kop on a European night and that at his former club, Celtic.

Van Dijk would become Liverpool’s highest-paid player, on as much as £200,000 a week. His fee would eclipse the £50million paid by Paris St Germain for David Luiz in 2014, the record for a defender.

The onus will now switch to the negotiations between Liverpool and Southampton. Van Dijk has five years remaining on his deal, but Liverpool are planning to hold talks in the hope of ensuring the Dutchman is in place before the start of pre-season training.

He would follow a well-trodden path. Players to have made the move from Southampton to Liverpool in recent seasons include Sadio Mané, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert.