Journalist Ian McGarry claims that Virgil van Dijk transfer to Liverpool would happen within the next five days.

This is something we have been hearing all through the summer and I am all the more skeptical about this transfer. Liverpool identified the Dutch defender as a solution to their defensive headaches and I had a feeling that he would be the first one to join Anfield this summer.

However, a combination of Southampton’s reluctance to part with their best player and Liverpool’s patience at playing the waiting game meant that the deal is still in the news category.

McGarry’s claim increases the optimism once again as he claims that the delay is because Southampton can get a replacement for Van Dijk before he finishes his move.

“The whole thing of Van Dijk not for sale is a holding tactic,” McGarry explained, speaking to The Transfer Window podcast (via Daily Star).

“1) To get more money for the player out of the buying club, in this case Liverpool and 2) waiting until confirming a replacement to take over from Van Dijk.

“By this time next week (Thursday) Van Dijk will already be given a squad number by Liverpool and that’s where he’ll be playing his football this season.”

“Van Dijk has seen himself in the red jersey of Liverpool. In my experience if they’ve already in their minds moved club, then they would rather go to that club than another.

“It would take an awful lot of money in terms of a contractual offer to assuage Van Dijk away from Liverpool and instead to Chelsea.”

How good is this claim? We all know that Southampton is a selling club but their stance on Van Dijk was to keep him at any cost. Part of that reluctance is because of the inflated market and the difficulty in getting a replacement at affordable prices.

However, the player had made his intentions known to both Southampton and Liverpool – to work with Jurgen Klopp. Southampton on their part kept their stubbornness and even tabled an improved contract.

But once Van Dijk made it clear that he has his mind set on the exit door, Southampton wanted to maximize their profit on the sale. This summer has seen many players move into agitation mode to get their transfer wishes granted and Liverpool are hoping that Van Dijk’s strike bears fruit.

What of Southampton? They are already resigned to the fact that their star defender will move and are looking at Lazio defender Wesley Hoedt who is on the verge of completing a move. The 23-year-old is eager to join Mauricio Pellegrino on the South Coast in the Premier League.

Chelsea were also reportedly interested in Van Dijk’s services but any chances of him choosing the Blues over the Reds look very remote.

All this looks ideal on paper but we all have seen the same story repeat through the summer. Hopefully this time it brings a happy ending for Liverpool.

https://youtu.be/4ng5Nb4Cdk0