Liverpool apparently have 'no interest' in signing Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. That is according to Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law and directly contradicts what Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf had claimed earlier this week.
The Dutch report suggested that Liverpool have been heavily scouted Van Dijk for the last two months - he starred in a 0-0 draw against the Reds in November - and were willing to meet a rumoured £25m release clause after liking what they saw.
However, Law tweeted on Wednesday night that his sources denied any interest whatsoever.
"I'm told tonight that Liverpool have no interest in Virgil van Dijk despite what Dutch papers say," the regular panellist on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement programme stated.
I'm told tonight that Liverpool have no interest in Virgil Van Dijk despite what Dutch papers say #lfc
Jurgen Klopp has generally been keen to distance Liverpool from speculation of big signings ever since he arrived on Merseyside last October and recently expressed a hope to see the first-team squad filled with 10 or more home-grown players in the future.
The German has also famously never spent particularly big on a centre-back. Neven Subotic and the permanent signing of Mats Hummels (around £3m each) were two of Klopp's first and bestbuys at Borussia Dortmund, and two cornerstones of his great success at the club.
Liverpool have previously been burned by paying big sums for defenders - look no further than Mamadou Sakho - while the free capture of Joel Matip has proven to one of the Anfield club's better signings in recent times. Left-back Alberto Moreno has been an expensivebust.
It was also only recently that £20m Dejan Lovren began to enjoy relative form.
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