Liverpool Transfer News: Virgil van Dijk Reportedly in Negotiations Amid Rumours

Former football lawyer Daniel Vanderkamp has said Liverpool's pursuit of Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk is "moving along." 

As reported by Paul Gorst of the Daily Mirror, Vanderkamp worked with the Reds in 2015 when they bought Christian Benteke from Aston Villa and posted the following message on his Twitter feed before deleting the account.

"Got told things are moving along now with LFC and Southampton," he said, per Gorst. "I don't know if he's handed in a request, just that the clubs are back negotiating."

According to Gorst, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has also claimed a deal was "close" to being done for the Dutchman.

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The Reds' pursuit of the player early in the window did not go to plan, as Southampton reported Liverpool to the Premier League for their conduct.

That prompted the Merseyside giants into issuing an apology to Saints and suggesting they would be ending their interest in the defender. Yet speculation has continued to swirl over a potential switch.

It was reported by Steve Bates of the Sunday People (h/t the Sunday Mirror) that Van Dijk has made it clear to his employers that he wants to move to Liverpool this summer.

Here's what Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had to say about the club's interest when asked recently, per PA Sport:

The Reds need to make improvements in the centre of defence, With that in mind, it's a surprise that links to more centre-backs haven't emerged following their insistence their pursuit of Van Dijk was done. So perhaps some interest does remain.

This would be one of the most significant moves of the summer window. For a team that lacked physicality and authority in their defensive play last season, the Netherlands international would be a perfect recruit.

As these figures from Squawka Football show, he's one of the most dominant centre-backs in English football:

It appears the 26-year-old is intent on a move to Merseyside, and although there has been tension between the two clubs, there's a sense this one will get done. After all, the Reds and Saints have done plenty of business in the past, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana heading to the north-west from the south coast.

Plus, in an age when players have more power than ever before at the expense of their clubs, it would be a big surprise if Van Dijk didn't ultimately get what he wants.