Liverpool maintain Van Dijk interest
Liverpool are hoping to step up their pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk in the coming days, with the 'Saints' closing in on the Dutchman's replacement.
English publication 'The Daily Mail' reports that Mauricio Pellegrino's side are pondering a £12m bid for Lazio centre-back Wesley Hoedt as they prepare to fill the void that will be created by Van Dijk's departure.
Van Dijk has reportedly told Senior officials at St Mary's that he wants to leave the lcub this summer, leading to him training on his own, away from the rest of the group last week.
The centre-back is believed to be Liverpool's top defensive target this summer, but the 'Reds' were warned off an approach earlier in the summer after the 'Saints' threatened to report them for an 'illegal appraoch'. Despite this setback, Liverpool are still very interested in the player, and it is understood that Anfield is the Dutchman's preferred destination.
Southampton currently have Jack Stephens, Maya Yoshida, Jan Bednarek and Van Dijk to call upon at the back, thus Hoedt's potential arrival would seem to suggest that his fellow Dutchman Van Dijk could be heading for the exit door.