Virgil van Dijk has told Liverpool that he wants to move to Anfield this summer as the club prepare to open transfer negotiations with Southampton over a deal for the defender that could cost up to £60 million.

Southampton maintain that Van Dijk is not for sale but Liverpool are ready to break their transfer record and make Van Dijk the highest-paid player at the club by offering him a contract of about £200,000 a week, while also paying a world-record fee for a centre back. That record is currently held by David Luiz, whom Chelsea sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £50 million in 2015 before buying him back last season.

Southampton say that Van Dijk had yet to inform them of his intentions. The