Liverpool have received a massive boost in their hopes to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk after it has emerged the player wants to play under manager Jurgen Klopp, according to a Mirror report.
The newspaper claims van Dijk is the only centre-back Klopp wants to sign this summer, and is ready to ensure the player that he will become a Kop legend if he completes the move.
It is said the Reds are currently in a four-club race with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City to sign the 25-year-old.
The report also states the Anfield club are ready to pay the Dutchman wages of approximately £200,000-a-week.
However, the Saints insist their star defender is not going anywhere this summer and he is under contract at the club until June 2022.
Van Dijk was a mainstay in Southampton’s back line this season prior to picking up a season-ending foot injury in January, making 30 appearances in all competitions.
The 25-year-old arrived at St Mary’s from Scottish giants Celtic in September 2015 for £13million, and he has since played 68 league and cup games for the club.
He has also been capped by the Netherlands on 12 occasions, but he has not featured since the 3-1 World Cup qualifier win over Luxembourg in November 2016.
The Reds finished fourth in this season’s Premier League thereby securing Champions League for next campaign – a factor Klopp will hope proves enticing for van Dijk.