Van Dijk chooses Liverpool over Chelsea and Man City, but Southampton have received no bids — reports

Semi-conflicting reports have emerged around Virgil van Dijk over the last 24 hours or so, with the big defender supposedly making his choice to go with Klopp’s Liverpool project over the higher salaries offered by Manchester City and Chelsea but at the same time reports claiming that Southampton haven’t even received an offer let alone started any negotiations over a potential move for the 25-year-old.

Granted, personal terms can often be agreed on before the two clubs get down to business (provided permission’s given), but the way Southampton are supposedly talking, acting, and feeling, they are not at all concerned about the situation nor do they expect the man with five years left on his contract and in whom they just invested not only money but training and recovery support during his rehab from injury, to leave. The latest figures put Van Dijk’s valuation closer to £60m than £50m, just in case anyone’s looking to stump up the cash and test Saints’ resolve.

It’s peak Silly Season, really. Which one do we believe? North or South? Liverpool Echo or Daily Echo? So much echo!

Maybe we’ll just buy Bonucci, right, Emanuele “just another Tancredi” Giulianelli of The Sun?

Sigh. Another day closer to the new season, I suppose.