Liverpool are so desperate to beat Chelsea and Manchester City to Virgil Van Dijk’s signature this summer, we’re willing to match our rival’s contract offers of £180k/week!
This is reported by the Echo, who suggest that Van Dijk’s decision will not come to money – but on which club offers the Dutchman the greater project.
All three are in the Champions League, although we’ll need to navigate an August Play-Off, but it’s the lure of working with Jurgen Klopp that is especially appealing to the centre-back.
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Coutinho signed a blockbuster new deal in January, but the initially reports of £200k/week were wide of the mark, with his wage actually £150k/week – as confirmed by the reliable Times.
This means that if we do capture Van Dijk, he’ll likely become our highest-paid player, and second highest of all time behind Luis Suarez (£200k/week in 2013 (BBC Sport)).
With the loyalty and success of Coutinho, this could be considered ‘unfair’, but the current transfer market dictates that’s the only way to attract top talent, and Liverpool would happily adjust the Brazilian’s deal accordingly.
In conclusion, the Echo is certain that Chelsea and City won’t be able to blow us out of the water financially for Southampton’s star-man – which leaves the job of convincing him to join in our manager’s hands…