Virgil van Dijk is still expected to join Liverpool from Southampton before the close of the transfer window according to a source close the player, reports Sky Sports.
Liverpool remain frontrunners in the race to sign Van Dijk, despite appearing to end their interest in the centre-back earlier in the summer after Saints threatened to report the Reds for tapping up their prized asset.
Saints are adamant that the defender won’t leave the club, but Van Dijk was left off of their pre-season training camp in France, with the Dutchman keen on a move to Anfield.
Manchester City and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, with both teams looking to improve their respective defences.
Virgil van Dijk: Only Steve Cook (268) has won more aerial duels than Van Dijk (261) of Premier League defenders since August 2015 pic.twitter.com/nMWrxCnI1V
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 26, 2017
However, the Reds are expected to land the centre-back if they can convince Saints into selling Van Dijk, with Jurgen Klopp keen to improve his options at the back before the close of the transfer window.