Ian McGarry: Van Dijk Agreed Personal Terms With Liverpool In The Summer, Could Move In Jan

Liverpool could still finish the signing of Virgil van Dijk in the January transfer window, according to Ian McGarry of the Transfer Window Podcast. (via Daily Star

We were linked with the former Celtic man but after a tumultuous transfer saga where we apologised to Southampton, Van Dijk went on strike against the club to force a move to Liverpool.

The 26-year-old has not featured for the Saints this season but is training with the first team now but he could still end up as a Red according to McGarry.

During the podcast, McGarry also compared Van Dijk’s situation to that of other players who wanted a move away from their clubs but stated that the Dutch defender would be a more feasible transfer since he would not be cup tied in European competitions.

As quoted by the Daily Star, McGarry said:

“Van Dijk, compared to his fellow rebels in the Premier League Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho, has one great advantage in that he’s not going to be cup tied for European football in the January window.

“So, I would say of those three he’s got the best prospects of leaving and joining a club in January.

“Liverpool was his first choice.”

He even claimed that the 26-year-old believed the deal was done but the takeover of the Saints put a spanner in those works.

“I spoke to a close friend of his and Van Dijk definitely believed his deal to Liverpool was all agreed in terms of his personal terms of this transfer window that’s just closed. I think the takeover of Southampton Football Club, I say takeover, but the investment in Southampton Football Club had a negative effect from Van Dijk’s point of view.

“They no longer wanted, or needed, the money that they would get from selling him to Liverpool for about £55m. Whether that backfires on them in regard to the player’s performance we’ll have to wait and see as he’s not featured yet.

“But I go back to the original point in that Van Dijk has a good chance of moving in January where I would say Sanchez and Coutinho don’t.”

After the hammering we got at Manchester City, there is no doubt we need another quality centre-back and Van Dijk would be the right man for the job.

The Dutch defender is easily a better option than Ragnar Klavan and we will have to pay a bucket load to bring him to Anfield. If he does come in January, we will be in a strong position to challenge on a number of fronts.