Virgil van Dijk

Rumour Mill: Liverpool ‘in talks’ over record transfer deal for Virgil van Dijk

It sounds too good to be true. It probably is. But one website claims this week that Liverpool have opened talks over a record transfer move for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk, the 25-year-old Dutchman, is seen by many – including Steven Gerrard – as the ideal centre-back signing for Jurgen Klopp‘s side this summer.

According to the websiteFootball Whispers‘ talks between the two clubs and the player’s representatives have already taken place.

Liverpool’s current record transfer is the £35 million spent on Andy Carroll back in January 2011 – although some reports suggest Sadio Mane‘s fee could rise to £36 million depending on clauses in the deal that saw him join from Southampton last summer.

Van Dijk is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League and won’t come cheap, so a fee around £40 million may be needed to bring him to Anfield to help shore up Klopp’s leaky defence.

It’s claimed that Liverpool are beginning talks ahead of a summer move to position themselves at the front of the queue for Van Dijk, who is represented by the same agency as Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne and Divock Origi.

Meanwhile, the same website claims Liverpool are also targetting Borussia Dortmund’s versatile defender Matthias Ginter.

Dortmund's Matthias Ginter in action during the Europa League match at White Hart Lane Stadium.  (David Klein/Sportimage via PA Images)

The World Cup-winning 23-year-old is well known to Klopp, who signed him at Dortmund in 2014, and can play at centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield – so an ideal signing.

He’s made 21 appearances in Bundesliga this season and six in the Champions League, but Dortmund have agreed a deal to sign Omer Toprak from Bayer Leverkusen this summer and signed Marc Barta from Barcelona last summer.

If, somehow, these two did arrive at Liverpool this summer, it would be superb business and improve Liverpool’s constantly problematic defence no end.

Joel Matip has impressed in his first season in England, but has had some injury issues, while Dejan Lovren has had eight different injury problems this season and remains a weak link in Liverpool’s defence.

Lucas Leiva has deputised at centre-back this season but the Brazilian is almost certainly surplus to requirements this summer and will depart after 10 years at Anfield.

Make us dream.

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