Chelsea are preparing to challenge Liverpool for the signature of Virgil van Dijk by offering Southampton £50 million for the Holland defender. Antonio Conte identified Van Dijk as a transfer target in January and has persuaded the club to make a firm bid, with Chelsea optimistic that a deal could be agreed before the start of the Premier League season next weekend.
Liverpool had been leading the chase for Van Dijk but Chelsea hope to exploit their Premier League rivals’ poor relations with Southampton by bringing him to Stamford Bridge. Southampton threatened to report Liverpool to the Premier League for making an illegal approach to Van Dijk after reports that he had an unauthorised meeting with Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, in June, and are adamant they will not sell him to the club. Southampton are insisting publicly that Van Dijk will not be sold this summer, but may alter their position if Chelsea follow through on their plan to make a formal bid.
The 26-year-old has been training on his own after informing Mauricio Pellegrino, the Southampton manager, of his desire to leave last month and will not be involved in the club’s first Premier League match of the season at home to Swansea City next Saturday due to a lack of match fitness.
Liverpool publicly withdrew their interest in Van Dijk after Southampton’s tapping-up threat but could return with a formal bid before the end of the transfer window.