'Jumped the gun' - Le Tisser slams Liverpool for reported 25-year-old approach

By Danny Wright

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has slammed Liverpool for jumping the gun in their bid to try and land Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds issued a statement on their official club website on Wednesday in which they apologised to the Saints for their reported pursuit of the Dutch international, 25, and confirmed that they are no longer trying to sign him.

This came after BBC Radio Solent, as reported on the BBC Sport website, said that Southampton were planning to report the Merseysiders to the Premier League for "an alleged illegal approach" for van Dijk.

Le Tissier, 48, now thinks that Liverpool need to reassess their approach to signing players if they want to make any substantial gains this summer.

"The way to go about a transfer is to actually make a bid first," said the ex-Saints striker, as quoted by TalkSport host Alan Brazil on his Sports Breakfast Twitter account.

"They have jumped the gun and maybe should have held fire.

"I remember the days when Liverpool used to be quite classy in transfer negotiations."

Van Dijk is one of the highly rated defenders currently playing in the Premier League and Liverpool are seeking to make improvements to their rearguard ahead of a return to the Champions League next season.

BBC Sport report that Southampton have valued the ex-Celtic stopper at £50million, despite him being keen on a move away from the south coast this summer.

He made 30 appearances across all comeptitions for Le Tissier's old club this term, scoring four goals.

Van Dijk had his season cut short in January when he suffered a damaged ligament in his foot.

In other Liverpool news, the Reds are keen on this £30million-rated centre-back from Serie A following the van Dijk revelation.

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