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Liverpool are ready to pounce if Southampton’s stance over Virgil van Dijk changes during the final 10 days of the transfer window.

However, if the Reds can’t secure the services of the £60million-rated Dutch centre-back then Jurgen Klopp is highly unlikely to sign an alternative.

Saints are set to bolster their defensive options with a £17million deal for Lazio centre-back Wesley Hoedt this week - re-igniting talk that Van Dijk could yet leave St Mary’s this summer.

Lazio sporting director Ighli Tare claims that Hoedt has been guaranteed regular first-team football by Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

(Image: Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger was adamant last week that Van Dijk wouldn’t be sold, but Southampton’s new Chinese owners haven’t provided Pellegrino with any additional funds for transfers.

Uncertainty about his future remains as Van Dijk still hasn’t returned to Saints’ first-team fold - a month after being banished to train on his own after informing Pellegrino that he wanted to leave.

Liverpool know they have to tread carefully having publicly withdrawn their interest and issued an apology to Saints in June after being accused of tapping up Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request a fortnight ago.

Southampton’s position over Van Dijk to date has mirrored Liverpool’s approach to keeping Philippe Coutinho away from the clutches of Barcelona. They have been unwilling to put a price on him or listen to offers.

However, if Saints do reluctantly grant the 26-year-old his wish to move on then Liverpool will be at the front of the queue and are prepared to shatter their transfer record.

If the Reds don’t land Van Dijk then Klopp will press ahead with Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez as his four centre-back options for this season.

One player who certainly won’t be Anfield bound is Julian Draxler.

Paris Saint-Germain are open to offers for the Germany international following their world record £200million swoop for Neymar and Liverpool have been linked with a move for him.

Klopp was interested in the left-sided attacker last season and held talks with him, but Draxler turned down the Reds when he left Wolfsburg and signed for PSG instead in January.

Liverpool have no intention of going back in for him as that isn’t an area of the squad Klopp is looking to strengthen.

With summer signings Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke on board, Klopp is happy with the options he’s got in terms of his front three.

The Reds boss is though still open to bolstering his ranks in centre-midfield. Liverpool have been left short in that area by injuries to Coutinho and Adam Lallana .