Chelsea signing Antonio Rudiger from Roma must surely boost Liverpool’s chances of landing Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.
Chelsea’s confirmed signing of Antonio Rudiger from Roma over the weekend would probably have also been greeted in positive fashion at Liverpool.
The Blues were reported by the Mirror to be interested in Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk – who is also a target for the Merseysiders – and while the signing of Rudiger doesn’t necessarily rule them out of the running, it makes the chances of them moving for another centre-back more unlikely.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk
The same report further boosted the Reds’ chances of landing Van Dijk with claims that the Dutchman has now decided he only wants to move for Anfield.
This leaves the Saints in a difficult position, with it not too long ago seeming like they held all the cards with several of the Premier League’s top clubs fighting for their star man.
However, with interest from Manchester City and Manchester United having also waned, it looks like their options for selling maybe quickly narrowing down to one potential suitor.
Of course with Southampton executive director, Les Reed, telling Sky Sports in June that Van Dijk was not for sale, the other side of this could be that the Hampshire club are actually pleased that interest is dropping.
However, the fact that Liverpool – who publicly apologised to the South Coast side last month for approaches made for the 25-year-old – are still in the hunt, it means Reed and his colleagues have less room for playing clubs off against each other to drive the price up.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk misses a chance to score
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