Arsenal have opened talks to sign Virgil van Dijk.
According to a report in the Daily Star representatives of the Southampton defender have been in talks with Arsenal to discuss a £50m summer switch to The Emirates.
Manchester City have also been in talks about the future of van Dijk who is expected to be the centre of one of the biggest transfer battles of the close season.
Arsenal’s interest has been linked to a switch to a three man defence next season although the Dutchman is equally comfortable in a back three or back four.
Van Dijk won’t play again this season due to an ankle injury but in the 18 months since he moved from Celtic he has established himself as the outstanding defender outside of the top six clubs.
That has prompted a flood of enquiries and although Southampton are reluctant to sell they’ll find it very difficult to turn down an offer of £50m for a player that they spent £13m on less than two years earlier.