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Pep Guardiola holds the key to landing Virgil van Dijk this summer, with the Dutch centre back understood to be eager to work with the Manchester City manager.

Chelsea and Liverpool are also pursuing the Southampton defender, who is set to spark a bidding war at the end of the season.

Antonio Conte has made £50m-rated Van Dijk one of his two primary targets in the next transfer window - alongside Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

But sources close to the 25-year-old say he will resist all other offers if Guardiola comes calling.

City plan to overhaul their defence in the summer, with Guardiola identifying the need for two full backs and at least one centre back.

He holds a long term interest in Juventus’ Italian international Leonardo Bonucci, as well as Aymeric Laporte of Athletic Bilbao.

Bayern Munich’s versatile Joshua Kimmich is another player on City’s list of potential defensive targets.

Van Dijk’s composure on the ball is what makes him such an attractive option for Guardiola.

And it is the former Barcelona and Bayern manager’s commitment to bringing the ball out from the back that is fueling Van Dijk’s determination to link up with him.

City’s defensive frailties have been repeatedly exposed this season as Guardiola has toiled with an aging rearguard and the absence of Vincent Kompany for long periods.

He has identified Tottenham’s Kyle Walker as a more realistic summer target than teammate Danny Rose - and is also a big admirer of Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy and Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin.

Following Thursday’s goalless draw with Manchester United, Guardiola highlighted the issues City face with four full backs all in their 30s in Pablo Zabaleta, Bacarry Sagna, Gael Clichy and Aleks Kolarov.

In recent weeks he’s resorted to converting winger Jesus Navas to right back in a bid to inject pace.

“We don’t have full backs to go up and down because they are 33, 34 years old,” he said. “So I adapt to the qualities of players.

“Last game, we played with Jesus Navas and we attack a lot with the full back - but Pablo, Sagna, Kolorov and Clichy, all of them are more than 33 years old and don’t have the legs to go up and down.

“Like a manager has to do, I adapt to the quality of the players we have and that’s why I prefer they play in another role.”

Kompany’s latest return from injury has been a boost - particularly after starting three games in succession.

But Guardiola knows he cannot bank on the Belgian’s fitness for an entire campaign after three years of injuries and needs to find a consistent partner for John Stones.

Still, his form is evidence of his enduring quality and value to City, even in a reduced role.

“With central defenders we always ask how many duels are we going to win today,” said Guardiola. “Did you win duels against your striker - yes or no?

“Vincent wins duels. That’s why he is a good central defender.

“He made an outstanding performance against United.

“It is not easy to play against Rashford and then in the first minutes against Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is so, so fast - but of course he is so intelligent during these kind of actions.”