Liverpool transfer news: Virgil van Dijk picks Jurgen Klopp

The Reds have won the race for Virgil van Dijk, reports Sky Sports, as the broadcaster claims that the Dutch international has chosen Liverpool ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea.

The trio of Premier League clubs have been chasing the 25-year-old Southampton central defender for months, and according to Sky Sports van Dijk "has told Liverpool they are his preferred destination".

While the Reds are refusing to comment on the speculation, Sky Sports claim that the Merseyside outfit "are prepared to break their transfer record to land him". Although they don't quote a figure, the Daily Mail does, claiming that the Reds will pay Southampton £60m for van Dijk with the player believed to have agreed a £200,000 a week wage package.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Additionally, the Mail says that the Dutch defender chose Liverpool ahead of City and Chelsea because of "the lure of working with their charismatic manager".

That's also the belief of Sky Sports, which says that van Dijk has been "impressed" with Jurgen Klopp since the Liverpool gaffer first expressed an interest in bringing him to Anfield.

Betfair - new customer offer - bet £10 and get £10 in free bets

Liverpool transfer news: Record £35m deal for Mohamed Salah

5 June

Liverpool are poised to break their transfer record as they close in on a £35m deal for former Chelsea star Mohamed Salah.

The 24-year-old winger is said to be close to finalising a deal with the Reds, three and a half years after they were beaten to his signature by the Blues.

He joined Chelsea for £11m in 2014, but is now expected to cost more than three times that amount.

"With add-ons, the fee is expected to eventually eclipse the value of the current Anfield transfer record set when Andy Carroll moved to Liverpool from Newcastle for £35 million in January 2011," reports the Daily Telegraph.

"Negotiations between Liverpool and Roma were stepped up last week. The Italians rejected a formal bid of £28m but Liverpool are determined to get their man."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Salah is the "ideal fit for his system as he adds pace, goals and creativity from a wide attacking area", adds the paper.

Salah is unlikely to be the only new arrival over the coming months, says The Times: "The deal will kick off a summer in which Liverpool intend to spend heavily in readiness for a return to the Champions League."

However, the paper adds that Liverpool face a battle to lure two other key targets to Anfield.

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is being courted by Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, it reports, while Red Bull Leipzig insist midfielder Naby Keita is not for sale - and it may take an offer of more than £50m to change their minds.

Liverpool transfer news: Coutinho Barcelona deal is off

01 June

There's reason to celebrate at Liverpool with the news that they're likely to hold onto their star player, Philippe Coutinho, this summer.

The Brazilian playmaker was rumoured to be a summer transfer target of Barcelona, who usually get what they want in the transfer market and last raided Anfield for Luis Suarez in 2014.

But the Daily Star reports that even though striker Neymar wants his compatriot to join him at the Camp Nou, incoming manager Ernesto Valverde "does not see how Coutinho could fit into his plans".

With Neymar, Suarez and Lionel Messi up front, Valverde reportedly wants a more defensively minded midfielder. This has put any move for the Liverpool man in "serious doubt", news that will be "music to the ears" of the club's manager Jurgen Klopp.

Keeping Coutinho is one thing but bolstering the squad is another. Liverpool Echo journalist James Pearce says that former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah could join the Anfield ranks this summer.

Pearce told the Rousing the Kop blog that Salah "is a target and Liverpool's interest in him goes back beyond Klopp's reign".

But Klopp is definitely keen on the Roma star because he's "desperate to add another winger, knowing that Liverpool just weren't the same side when they were without [Sadio] Mane last term."

But it's not all good news. The Reds "face an almighty battle to claim their top priority this summer", warns the Liverpool Echo, which notes that Man City have moved into pole position in the battle to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.

Apparently City are prepared to fork out £60m to land the player and will then pay him £180,000 a week, eclipsing Liverpool's paltry offer of £120,000.

The Reds also look set to miss out on Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon, says the Daily Express. Liverpool "have now given up on signing the 17-year-old as he is believed to be edging closer to joining Tottenham," reports the paper.

Betfair - new customer offer - bet £10 and get £10 in free bets

Liverpool transfer news: Reds face battle to land Rafinha

30 May

Liverpool will need to beat off competition from Roma if they're to land Barcelona midfielder Rafinha, reports the Daily Star.

Apparently the Reds are ready to meet the £13m asking price for the 24-year-old, who's not enjoyed the best of seasons at the Camp Nou, but Italian outfit Roma are also battling to sign the Brazilian playmaker, who has three years to run on his contract.

Jurgen Klopp has apparently had Rafinha under surveillance and will make his move having heard that incoming Barca boss Ernesto Valverde is ready to sell the South American.

Another midfielder being linked to Anfield is Red Bull Leipzig's Naby Keita, although the Daily Mirror claims the Guinean goal-provider is paying no attention to the transfer talk suggesting he's on Klopp's radar.

The 22-year-old impressed for the German outfit this season and is apparently going to be the subject of a big money bid from the Reds, but when asked the possibility of a switch, Keita told Bundesliga.com: "I really don’t worry about such things. My only focus is on our games and my performances; they are the most important things."