Virgil van Dijk is politely reminding Liverpool he’s still around!
The centre-back, the subject of never-ending speculation through the summer, has backed us and Manchester City to outdo Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United in Europe this season and go the furthest.
“I think Liverpool and Man City maybe,” the Dutchman told Squawka, when asked.
“You never know. It’s always going to be difficult and [it’s] a different style of play – European nights are always different.
“Anything can happen, especially if you are the big English clubs who are in the Champions League at the moment.”
Van Dijk was Jurgen Klopp’s primary target during the summer, when Liverpool so obviously needed a new centre-back to bolster our very average backline.
But Southampton reported us for an illegal approach in June and our hands were effectively tied from this point onwards, with FSG promising not to make a bid unless the Saints put the 26-year-old up for sale.
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Despite van Dijk’s transfer request, Southampton refused to enter negotiations, much like we did with Barcelona and Coutinho.
Like the Spaniards though with our no.10, van Dijk remains a long-term target and Liverpool will try for him either in January or come the end of the season, with Klopp not settling for second best.
As soon as Southampton prepare to cash in, we’ll be at the front of the queue.