Liverpool went so close to signing Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk in the summer transfer window. But as things would have it, the Saints held firm and the Reds were not able to sign their first-preference target.
The centre-back is now expected to report back to first-team training at Southampton on Monday, with Jurgen Klopp planning to come back in January with a follow-up bid, as per a report from the Saints fan site The Ugly Inside.
The 25-year-old was earmarked as the prime target by Klopp, with an eye on improving our back four. The player too had his mind set on a move to Anfield as he wanted to work with the German tactician.
However, the Saints did not want to lose their star defender and rejected any advances by the Reds. They even reported Liverpool to the FA of tapping their player following which the Reds had to apologise publicly and shelve their thoughts of signing the player. (Telegraph)
Van Dijk would have nothing of it as he showed his frustration at Southampton’s tactics by skipping sessions and training alone. Even a transfer request couldn’t get him his dream move even though Liverpool were ready to pay £70million to secure his signature.
Now that the dust has settled on the transfer window, the Dutch defender can only hope to get back to action and wait for the winter window bid from Klopp. There are concerns in some circles that the player may not be able to play again for the club and would only be waiting to join Liverpool.
However, there are many instances in the past of players coming close to joining rival teams but failing to do so in the last minutes of the transfer window. That hasn’t stopped them from giving their best and there is no reason why Van Dijk shouldn’t give his best until January.
Verdict
I expect Southampton to play hardball again in the winter although that shouldn’t stop Klopp from going back with a bid. Van Dijk has been given time off and he should be ready to integrate back into the first-team squad.
Do you think we will be successful in the winter transfer window with Virgil van Dijk?
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