Ronald Koeman has admitted that Everton face a near impossible task of convincing reported January targets - such as Southampton's Virgin van Dijk - to join his side over their Premier League rivals.
The Blues boss apparently remains hopeful of raiding his former club for the £50m-rated centre half but, with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea also circling around Van Dijk, Koeman knows he faces a difficult task of bringing the defender to Goodison Park.
The Netherlands legend worked alongside his compatriot at St.Mary's before moving up North in the summer and, in quotes published by the Daily Mirror, is praying that his previous working relationship with Van Dijk will help to prove the difference in prizing him away from the Saints.
Koeman said: I was a player myself. If I was playing in Holland and I play for Southampton and I can choose between Manchester City and Everton then of course then if you can, make the step.
Players like Van Dijk, ok. All players have a lot of ambition and we like to go, we like to finish and play to get into the Champions League. Players want to be involved in the Champions League.
But we need to show as Everton that it's really an interesting project. It is a project that is just starting and of course it will take time, but it is an exciting project. But once again, if you have the competition against those kind of teams then it's always difficult.�
The 53-year-old will be handed the funds necessary to make January signings as he bids to improve Everton's current ninth-placed league position, but he remains acutely aware that money is not the be all and end all in convincing targets to join the Toffees' cause over bigger clubs.
He continued: Of course maybe money can have an influence. But not on the contracts (the star players command). If they (a top rival) offers to pay 10, and you pay 200, then maybe, but not if they pay five and you pay six. It is not an influence.�
Koeman has not made it a secret that he is ready to significantly bolster his squad in the winter transfer window after being left frustrated by the club's summer dealings, and revealed as much when asked about making new signings in just under a week's time.
Ronald Koeman hoping special relationship with Virgil van Dijk will give Everton the edge in transfer tusslehttps://t.co/PJOYCMKy9c pic.twitter.com/2Tk83NvrB4
He added: If I compare, I like to do more business now in January than we did last year in Southampton.
It's all about what we need. We will lose Gueye to AFCON. We have long term injury in Bolasie. We have the physical problems with injuries of James McCarthy and we know Gareth Barry cannot play games every two or three days.
We have Phil Jagielka in a tough period, with a lot to think about what's the best 11 and what's the most fresh 11 players. So we would like to do more business.�
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