Virgil van Dijk has revealed he could make a sensational move to Liverpool in the January window – and fans of the Merseysiders have taken to Twitter to express their delight.
The centre-back made his first start of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Stoke City having spent the summer agitating for a move away from St Mary’s.
He confirmed this week for the first time that he wanted to join Liverpool, who were prepared to pay a world-record fee of around £70 million for a defender, but Southampton stood firm even after the 26-year-old submitted a transfer request.
Van Dijk, who the Daily Star report earns £65,000-a-week at the Saints, has claimed he has no regrets over his failed attempt to join the Merseyside giants during the summer and raised the possibility of a stunning mid-season transfer.
Asked about his failed bid to join Liverpool, the Holland international said, as quoted by Tribal Football: “I have no regrets. Of course, I wanted to go one step up, but eventually Southampton did not want to let me go, but you’re a professional, so now I’ll give everything to the club. Halfway through the season, maybe we can see what’s possible.”
Liverpool fans have taken to social media en masse to deliver their verdicts on Van Dijk’s comments and whether he could make a difference to Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have had a mixed start to the season.
The majority of the Anfield faithful are enthused at the prospect of Van Dijk propping up the club’s vulnerable defence.
This Is Fubtol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
All this talk about Van Dijk and the January transfer window just makes it even more frustrating that we didn’t sign him this summer #LFC
— View of the Kop (@ViewOfTheKop_) October 3, 2017
van dijk, sign him
— Isabelle (@lfcisabelle) October 3, 2017
When we sign Van Dijk and Klopp partners him with Lovren and not Matip ??????????? #LFC ????
— Riddock • (@N8K__) October 5, 2017
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE FUTURE:
January 31st 2018:
Liverpool still hoping to tie up Van Dijk deal before tonight’s deadline passes. #LFC— Mike (@aguyiusedtoknow) October 5, 2017
First thing I do on #FIFA18 career mode as #LFC is sign Van Dijk, and it just looks and fits together perfectly lol
— Sumrit D. Sidhu (@SumritSidhu) October 5, 2017
Can you sign us two new centre backs please including Virgil Van Dijk? Thanks. #LFC
— Enam Anfield ? (@ahmede1) October 4, 2017
Van Dijk & Keita In January Would Defo Transform #LFC the way they should have in the Summer
— Rüca (@Rca95513439) October 4, 2017
Maybe our centre halves have been trying to hard coz they r looking over their shoulder #vanDijk #january #LFC
— Lee Reynolds (@rendog48) October 4, 2017
Would be amazing to have him playing for Liverpool #LFC #vandijk
— Harry Sivills (@sivills_harry) October 3, 2017