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Van Dijk expects to join Liverpool in next 48 hours - report
By Harry Sykes
Virgil van Dijk expects to join Liverpool before the summer transfer window shuts in a £70million deal, according to a report.
The Independent claim that the Southampton defender is convinced that he will get his dream move before Thursday night’s deadline.
Van Dijk remains keen on Liverpool. Expects to sign for LFC. As ever, it’s up to Saints https://t.co/957F2ydylg
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) August 29, 2017
It is said that sources close to the player insist Van Dijk, 26, expects to be a Liverpool player in little over 48 hours “and that it is still by far his first preference”.
The Holland international has been exiled from the Southampton squad since telling new manager Mauricio Pellegrino that he wanted to leave last month.
Southampton have made it clear publicly and privately that they will not consider selling Van Dijk, who has been training alone since he handed in a transfer request three weeks ago.
Liverpool withdrew their interest in signing Van Dijk earlier this summer after Southampton asked the Premier League to consider allegations of an illegal approach, but, crucially, Van Dijk’s desire to move to Anfield — and Klopp’s wish to see him in the heart of his defence — has never changed.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino said at Huddersfield on Saturday that “Virgil will be here on September 1” but relations between club and player are at an all-time low and he has his heart set on leaving.
The Independent report that Chelsea and Arsenal are weighing up late bids for Van Dijk, which paves the way for Liverpool to match any offer should it be accepted by Southampton.
In other Liverpool transfer news, there has been a huge development in the club’s bid to sign Thomas Lemar.
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