Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk spoke to Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven about a move to Anfield over the summer.
Liverpool could move for Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio after missing out on Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven over the summer.
That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Van de Ven was personally approached by Virgil van Dijk about a move to Anfield.
The Reds mostly focused on midfield signings over the summer, landing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool did seemingly explore the centre back market though, with a natural left-footer on the radar.
Liverpool missed out on Micky Van de Ven
Links to Micky van de Ven were prominent over the summer.
Liverpool appointed Jorg Schmadtke as their interim sporting director, and he was the man who brought Van de Ven to Wolfsburg.
The London Evening Standard even highlighted over the summer that Tottenham feared Liverpool would hijack their talks to sign Van de Ven.
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney claimed in October that Liverpool were ‘very interested’ in signing Van de Ven but he chose a move to Tottenham instead.
Liverpool, the story goes, couldn’t promise regular first-team football whereas Tottenham wee willing to throw him straight into the team.
TEAMtalk now claim that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk even spoke to Van de Ven to try and convince him to join the Reds.
The pair only recently became Netherlands teammates but Van Dijk allegedly made contact with Van de Ven to sell him on the move to Merseyside.
The charm offensive didn’t work and Tottenham were able to secure a deal worth £34.5million rising to £43million, which now looks like a superb deal.
Whilst Van de Ven is now injured, he has been hailed as a ‘machine’ by teammate James Maddison and has been one of the signings of the season.
Liverpool could now turn to Goncalo Inacio
TEAMtalk’s report highlights that Liverpool still want a left-footed centre back and are now eyeing Sporting star Goncalo Inacio.
The Portuguese defender has allegedly been on Liverpool’s radar for over two years now with regular scouting taking place.
Liverpool have watched Inacio at both club and international level with the Reds lining up a move.
Inacio would seemingly cost more than Van de Ven though, with a £52million release clause required in order to lure him away from Sporting.
Liverpool must now weigh up whether to activate that clause in January or wait until the summer, with other clubs thought to be keen on the 22-year-old.
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