Liverpool to Be Reported by Southampton over 'Illegal' Virgil van Dijk Approach

Southampton are reportedly set to report Liverpool to the Premier League following their approach for Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk. 

According to BBC Radio Solent (via BBC Sport), the south-coast club feel the Reds' widely-reported move for the defender is "illegal."

Per BBC Sport's report, Liverpool have yet to officially seek permission from Saints to speak to Van Dijk.

Yet it has been widely reported he is eager to move to Anfield, and has been particularly swayed by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp's involvement in the pursuit, per Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol:

Van Dijk, 25, cost Saints £13 million to buy from Celtic in 2015 and he only signed a new six-year deal at St Mary's to 2022 last summer.

Before picking up an injury back in January that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season he was arguably the best performing centre-back in the Premier League.

As such, Southampton are set to demand a huge fee if they are to sell the Netherlands international, and Manchester City have reportedly already been put off by the £60 million price tag, per the Manchester Evening News' James Robson:

Van Dijk would be an excellent signing for Liverpool as their defence has been lacking for a number of years.

It still looks as though the Merseyside outfit are in a good position to snap him up, but Southampton are seemingly unhappy with how Liverpool have acted in their pursuit.