Barcelona are set to infuriate Liverpool further as they weigh up a move for long-term Reds target and Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, reports the Mirror on Sunday.
The La Liga side angered Liverpool over the summer in their lengthy and well publicised pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, only to fail in their attempts to convince the Premier League side to sell.
It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will return for the Spaniard in the New Year, but they are now considering a move for Van Dijk after they sent scouts to watch him in action for the Netherlands in their 2-0 win over Sweden last week.
Saints are adamant that the 26-year-old isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but must be aware of intense interest in one of their prized assets.
Having threatened to report Liverpool to the authorities for alleged tapping up of their player, Saints would rather sell abroad than to the Reds or any other Premier League rival.
Chelsea and Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Van Dijk, though Barcelona could well have moved to the front of the queue should they firm up their rumoured interest in the centre-back.
Van Dijk is in line to start for Southampton against Newcastle this afternoon, in what would be just his second Premier League start since sustaining an ankle injury back in January.
