Chelsea Dealt Blow As Key Target Expects To Join Liverpool This Summer

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, the latest on Virgil van Dijk’s future….

It appears Chelsea have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Virgil van Dijk as Sky Sports News claim the Southampton defender still expects to join Liverpool this summer.

Van Dijk’s future at St Mary’s has been the subject of speculation all summer as several top clubs have been showing an interest in signing the centre-back in recent weeks.

It initially looked like the Dutch international would be heading to Liverpool but the Reds were forced to shelve their pursuit and issue a public apology after Southampton complained to the Premier League about an alleged illegal approach.

This opened the door for Chelsea and the Mirror reported yesterday that Antonio Conte was lining-up a £60m move for van Dijk after making him one of his prime transfer targets.

Conte has already signed four new faces at Stamford Bridge but the Italian coach knows he needs a much larger squad this season ahead of their return to the Champions League and van Dijk would be a superb addition.

However, it looks like Chelsea have suffered a blow as Sky Sports claim a source close to the player says van Dijk is still desperate for a move to Anfield and expects to complete a switch to Liverpool before the end of the summer.

The news outlet say Chelsea, along with Manchester City, maintain an interest in van Dijk while Southampton insists he’s still not for sale, but it appears the player believes he’ll eventually get his wish to join Liverpool.

van Dijk has been exiled from the Saints squad and didn’t travel to their pre-season training camp in France earlier this week after informing the club he wants to leave, so it does seem like only a matter of time before he secures a move.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

Jurgen Klopp needs a dominant central defender to tighten their defence if Liverpool are to be genuine title contenders this season and van Dijk is arguably the best in the division so the 26-year-old would be an excellent signing if the Reds can pull it off.