Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Tuesday dragged four clubs into the race to sign Virgil van Dijk. With Manchester City and Liverpool it was stated they’d both been scouting the player for two months, watching every game. For Everton the Ronald Koeman connection was the obvious angle.
The other angle for Manchester United is that any move would break a Dutch transfer record they helped make. Jaap Stam is the most expensive defender to come from the Netherlands, with his 2001 move to Lazio priced at €20m.
Any Van Dijk transfer will break that amount, and De Telegraaf certainly make it sound like a Southampton exit is on the cards.
The £25m figure comes from English newspaper reports, there has been no official confirmation, or denial, but De Telegraaf are happy to run with it.
If the price is correct it sounds like a bargain, and, perhaps more so, would make a move for the player relatively easy. Mourinho could identify his man and have Edward Woodward go off and deposit the money.
It all sounds so easy.
