Liverpool Hoping To Beat Chelsea & Arsenal To Signing Of £50m Star

Managers are now making plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Liverpool are hoping to win the race to sign Virgil van Dijk….

Liverpool are hoping the lure of playing for Jurgen Klopp will be enough to see them beat Chelsea and Arsenal to the signing of Southampton’s £50m-rated defender Virgil van Dijk this summer, according to the Mirror.

van Dijk has developed in to one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League since joining Southampton from Scottish champions Celtic in the summer of 2015 with his dominant displays at the back earning rave reviews.

The 25-year-old is being strongly linked with a move away from St Mary’s Stadium this summer and the Mirror claim that Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are among the clubs battling-it-out over his signature after expressing their interest to Southampton.

Chelsea have been touted as the early favourites with the Mirror carrying a report earlier this month that suggested there was a growing belief that van Dijk favoured a move to Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte has just led the Blues to their fifth Premier League title but he needs to find a replacement for John Terry and van Dijk has the ability to strengthen the Chelsea defence next year.

Arsene Wenger is set to sign a new two-year contract at Arsenal and the Frenchman is looking to bring in a dominant centre-back this season after the Gunners leaked 44 goals last year.

van Dijk could prove to be the linchpin Arsenal need to marshall their new-look back three and the Mirror claim that the north Londoners have joined Liverpool in offering the Dutch international a lucrative contract worth £200,000-a-week.

However, a lack of Champions League football could put an end to Arsenal’s interest and the newspaper says that although Chelsea feel they remain in pole position, Liverpool still have a genuine chance of landing van Dijk.

Klopp knows he needs to add a top class centre-back to his squad if the Reds are to be title challengers next season and the Mirror claim that van Dijk is attracted by the idea of playing under the German coach at Anfield.

Liverpool hope that this, combined with the lure of Champions League football and a lucrative contract, will be enough to persuade van Dijk to snub Chelsea and Arsenal for Merseyside.

Southampton remain insistent that the defender is not for sale and they will play hardball, however, the Mirror suggest that £50m will be enough to force the south coast club to cash-in.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

That sort of money shouldn’t be too much of a problem for any of the clubs being linked and I think van Dijk will be a superb signing for whoever ends up winning the race for his signature this summer.