Liverpool Transfer News: Virgil Van Dijk Deal Worth Reported £75 Million

Liverpool announced it has agreed a deal to sign Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk during the January transfer window.

Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph reported the deal is worth £75 million.

Wilson described how the Reds intend to offer Van Dijk £180,000 per week. He also stated "there is a growing feeling that a deal may even be completed ahead of the transfer window formally opening next Monday."

The transfer represents a world-record deal for a defender, surpassing the £52 million Manchester City spent on Benjamin Mendy this summer. Speaking of City, the Premier League leaders have been rumoured to be ready to contest Liverpool's attempts to sign Netherlands international Van Dijk, per Paul Joyce of The Times.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

However, Wilson reported how Van Dijk would prefer a move to Anfield due to the presence of Jurgen Klopp as manager.

Klopp knows how much his squad needs an aggressive and technically competent centre-back like Van Dijk. He would fortify a defence breached 23 times through 20 league games, the joint-most in the top six along with Arsenal.

The Saints' talisman has been on the Reds' radar since the summer. Southampton even threatened to report Liverpool for the way the club had conducted its approach for the player, prompting a swift apology from the Reds.

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Van Dijk stayed, but his future now looks to be away from Southampton after being left out of the last three matchday squads by manager Mauricio Pellegrino, per Joe Rimmerof the Liverpool Echo.

If Liverpool have beaten the competition to one of the most accomplished defenders in the division, it will rate as a major coup for Klopp, one sure to make his team firm favourites in the race to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.