Are Manchester City set to win the race for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk?

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The future of Virgil van Dijk is one of the transfer sagas of the summer – but the Sunday Mirror are reporting that Manchester City are set to win the race for the Southampton defender.

The Dutchman has been linked with a host of clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, after starring at the heart of the Saints defence.

Nonetheless, the Mirror believes that the Dutchman’s destination will be City who, as well as shelling out £60 million for his signature, are prepared to offer the 25-year-0ld a whopping £200,000 a week to make him the world’s most expensive defender.

What would van Dijk bring to the Etihad?

City’s defensive issues have been well-documented. They finished third in the Premier League but conceded 39 goals – considerably more than champions Chelsea and runners-up Tottenham Hotspur.

Pep Guardiola has clearly identified the club’s back line as in need of major improvement, with concerns over the fitness of Vincent Kompany and the form of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.

Van Dijk would fit the bill and complement Guardiola’s patented brand of football. A ball-playing centre-half, the former Celtic man has made 55 appearances since swapping the SPL for the English top-flight in 2015 and been a cornerstone of Southampton’s defence.

His consistent and authoritative performances have caught the attention of numerous clubs, who do not appear to have been discouraged by the hefty price-tag or the fact he missed the latter stages of the campaign through injury.