Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk is the transfer story which refuses to go away. Of all clubs, one may expect Liverpool know how to deal with Southampton on transfers, but they’ve managed to mightily upset the South Coast side this summer.
Leaks to the media about agreeing personal terms with Van Dijk seemed to be bragging from Liverpool, and Southampton went down the route of suggesting action over tapping up.
Liverpool apologetically slinked off with tail between legs and that was supposed to be that. Except it was never likely to be.
The Dutch defender had his head turned by Liverpool’s offer and is currently training separately at Southampton. De Telegraaf report that Van Dijk would see his wage rise from around €2m per year to €8m per year if he moves to Liverpool, and he’d be able to take action if still in the Netherlands.
There, footballers have a form of recourse and can go to the ‘arbitration board’ to complain they’re being treated unfairly. Whilst that would be possible in the Netherlands, it’s not in England, and Van Dijk simply has to hope peace breaks out between Southampton and Liverpool.
De Telegraaf believe that if Van Dijk does move to Liverpool, he could go for double the current Dutch transfer record, held by Marc Overmars’ €40m move to Barcelona.
