What impact could Virgil Van Dijk’s imminent arrival have at Liverpool?

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The Times report that Southampton central defender Virgil Van Dijk is desperate to complete a move to Anfield and has chosen Liverpool as his next club, with a £200,000 per week contract for the next five years already agreed. That will mean that he could turn down both Manchester City and Chelsea to join the club.

Now, Liverpool and Southampton must return to their summer ritual of negotiating a fee, with the Saints believed to be hoping to hold out for a £60 million fee, smashing the transfer record for a central defender which was set by John Stones when he moved to Manchester City from Everton for £47.5 million last summer.

A sign of intent – Liverpool are title contenders

This could be huge deal for Liverpool for a number of reasons, one of which is what the financial outlay represents. At £200,000 per week, he would be the club’s top earner and would also smash their transfer record if reports of a £60 million fee are accurate. By spending big, Fenway Sports Group are showing that they will back Jurgen Klopp and give him the support to take the club to the next level.

It’s thought that Jurgen Klopp is a huge factor in Van Dijk’s decision to choose Liverpool above Manchester City and Chelsea, and that speaks volumes of the sterling work that he has done at the club over the last season and a half. The centre-back clearly feels that the Reds have what it takes to be in the race for the title next season, and with Van Dijk at the back their chances of doing so will be massively boosted.

Klopp wants to resolve his team’s biggest weakness

So often in the 2016/17 season, Liverpool were left ruing defensive weaknesses for defeats. Conceding twice despite dominating against Burnley, letting three past them against Bournemouth and Swansea, all results which could have made the difference between clinging onto fourth place and a title fight.

With Van Dijk in the Liverpool back line, likely alongside Joel Matip as first choice, it represents a huge step up in quality from the likes of Ragnar Klavan or an out of position Lucas Leiva, and even from Dejan Lovren. By focusing on strengthening the squad’s biggest vulnerabilities early on in the transfer window, it shows that Klopp is planning and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic next season.

A destination for Mamadou Sakho?

Though no reports have indicated that it’s a possibility that Mamadou Sakho could go the other way as part of the deal, it could be logical. The Telegraph reported in late March that Southampton were considering the Frenchman as a target in case the Dutch international did leave St. Mary’s.

Now, with Crystal Palace thought to be priced out of a move and Southampton demanding £60 million for Van Dijk, the inclusion of Sakho, who seems to have no future on Merseyside, could help to lessen the financial blow for Liverpool and would give Claude Puel some money to spend on top of a ready made replacement.

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