Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has his heart set on a sensational summer move to Liverpool, according to a BBC journalist.
BBC Sport correspondent Phil McNulty took to his personal Twitter account on Monday afternoon to report that the Merseyside giants have moved into pole position to sign the centre-back in the forthcoming window.
McNulty reported that Holland international Van Dijk wants to join Liverpool ahead of his other main suitors Chelsea and Manchester City.
Liverpool are now firm favourites to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton – they are the club he wants to join ahead of Chelsea & Man. City
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) June 5, 2017
Southampton have said the 25-year-old is not for sale, but Liverpool are prepared to test that resolve with an offer that various reports have stated could obliterate the club’s current £35million transfer record.
Van Dijk’s apparent preference for Liverpool ahead of reigning champions Chelsea and cash-rich City is a stunning validation of the work Jurgen Klopp has overseen in transforming the club’s fortunes given last season’s fourth place finish is only the second time they have qualified for the Champions League since 2009.
The giant defender has been out injured since January with an ankle problem but is working his way back to fitness and is expected to be back firing in time for pre-season.
Van Dijk has been targeted to improve a defence which conceded 42 league goals last season, losing to the likes of Swansea City, Burnley and Bournemouth rather than the top-flight elite.
He will be regarded as an upgrade on current senior Anfield centre-backs Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan.
There remain significant hurdles to overcome, not least in persuading Southampton to sell a player they signed from Celtic for £13 million in the summer of 2015 and have tied to a contract that runs until 2022.
However, Liverpool have signed Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Sadio Mané and Rickie Lambert from St Mary’s since 2014.