Southampton center back Virgil van Dijk is the Premier League’s most in-demand defender this summer, with Saints ready to cash in to the tune of over £50m for the Dutch big man a month shy of his 26th birthday.
Reports last week put Manchester City and Chelsea firmly in the lead, City perhaps edging it a bit, with both teams besting Liverpool’s highest offer by about 50 per cent. But as per a report yesterday in the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool are willing to go above and beyond their previous maximum, and while they still might not be able to truly compete with the financial powers of City and Chelsea, they are hopeful that “money will not be the decisive factor and have been encouraged by the feedback received from van Dijk's representatives”. Whatever that means.
A little update on #LFC and Virgil van Dijk - Chelsea firmly in the hunt with Man Cityhttps://t.co/6vZV3UOXF2
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) June 4, 2017
City’s previously reported high offer of £180,000-a-week in wages is now reported as £200,000 by the Echo. Chelsea are in that region as well (£170,000 per week reported previously), while Liverpool were trailing well behind at £120,000. Whatever curb appeal Liverpool may be counting in may not be enough when the difference in wages offered is that significant, but we’ll see.