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Virgil van Dijk will be at the centre of a £25million transfer scramble in the New Year.

Southampton’s defender is on the wanted list of at least three top clubs – and Sunday People Sport understands there is a get-out clause in his contract.

Manchester United,Manchester City and Everton are all tailing the stopper whose performances have attracted rave reviews this season.

Jose Mourinho has been given the green light to add defensive cover to his ranks and is considering several options.

Van Dijk, Benfica’s Victor Lindelof and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez have all been watched extensively since the start of the campaign.

However, the name of Schalke’s Benedikt Howedes can also be added to that list as the Portuguese seeks to plug a gap left by Eric Bailly’s injury.

(Image: REUTERS)

But Everton, now with former Saints’ manager Ronald Koeman in the Goodison Park hot-seat, will be every bit as anxious to persuade Van Dijk that a move to Merseyside will better suit his career.

The Toffees have cash to burn and owner Farhad Moshiri is desperate to make waves in the marketplace – and he is armed with sufficient resources to do so.

Any successful move by Koeman is likely to accelerate Phil Jagielka’s potential departure – with his former Toffees’ chief David Moyes almost certain to be in the running for the England international.

Manchester City are the latest club showing an interest.

(Image: Alex Livesey)

Pep Guardiola does have options in the heart of his defence but there are growing concerns surrounding the long-term fitness of club captain Vincent Kompany.

The Belgian international has broken down again and the uncertainty over the centre-half, allied to the inconsistency of both Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones is causing concern at the Etihad.

All three clubs will be interested in the Dutch centre-half who has emerged as one of the outstanding performers in the Premier League this season – and meeting the £25m transfer fee is not simply achievable for all but also ensures that they will be bidding without a war developing for the player’s signature.