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Southampton’s £40million plus rated centre-back Virgil van Dijk is reportedly being chased by Liverpool but former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he tried to sign the Dutchman during his time at Anfield but was knocked back by the club’s scouts.

Although currently sidelined with an ankle injury, van Dijk is one of English football’s most wanted men with Jurgen Klopp supposedly one of a number of admirers at a host of top Premier League sides coveting his signature.

The Saints are insisting that any potential suitors will have to break the bank to land the defender having lost many of their biggest names to domestic rivals in recent years – particularly Liverpool – with Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert all swapping St Mary's for Anfield.

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However, Rodgers has told the Evening Times that he was keen on van Dijk during his early years before he completed his £2.6million move to the Ulsterman’s current employers Celtic.

The ex-Liverpool boss said: “It’s about where the player is at, at the time of their ability.

“Virgil van Dijk could have jumped from Celtic to a Liverpool. Some clubs will want to see the players tested at certain arenas first.

“But if there is enough belief in the player then that counts. The key for scouting is trying to predict when the player is peaking.

“You could see with van Dijk that he was quick, strong, good on the ball and decent in the air.”

Rodgers added: “So what more do you need to see? You could see him playing international football and, okay, clubs may want to see him in Champions League.

“Wanyama left and then made the jump but he was a good player at Celtic, showing up well in the Champions League.

“There is maybe an issue with scouts.

“When I was at Liverpool I asked about van Dijk and he was at Groningen and then at Celtic. But I was told he wouldn’t be for us at the time.”