Who do Liverpool need to sign to retain the title? Keep up with all the Reds news with our free daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Welcome to the murky world of “tapping-up.”

And, yes, we know it happens all the time. And, no, that does not make it alright.

The Premier League rules make it very clear. Here it is:

“Subject to Rule T.7, a Contract Player, either by himself or by any Person on his behalf, shall not either directly or indirectly make any such approach as is referred to in Rule T.5 without having obtained the prior written consent of his Club.”

But what happened this week with Virgil van Dijk has suddenly thrust “tapping up” into the spotlight.

One former agent said: “No transfer happens without an element of tapping-up.

(Image: REUTERS)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

“What usually happens is that an agent goes to the club, says his player wants to leave, asks how much it will take to get him out and then relays the information to the club that wants to buy him.

“What is much more unusual is for a manager or club to become quite so directly involved without some sort of sign or indication that a player might be available.

“There’s also a lot of tapping-up which goes on between players. A rumour appears in the press, the player asks if he’s up for it, they say yes and the deal is underway.

“But I would say that, nine times out of 10, you will find that there’s an agent right in the middle of it, making it happen, making the calls, setting up the meetings.

“But generally, you only get to the stage where the player meets with a manager once you know there’s a real chance that the deal can get done, that there’s been some sort of sign that the other club is willing to sell.”

(Image: Getty) (Image: John Powell)

For Liverpool to apologise privately to Southampton, publicly apologise and then walk away from the deal shows that they have been caught red handed.

Southampton have already reported it to the Premier League and several clubs still expect an investigation to take place.

And yet there remains an attitude that everyone does it, Liverpool have been unlucky to be caught and there is nothing you can do.

To a degree, that is right. It is hard to imagine any deal getting done without an element of tapping up to see if the player is interested, to see if he is ready to push to leave and to see whether they can pay him what he wants.

Another example is that it has been widely reported that Alexis Sanchez’s representatives have met with Bayern Munich. Is that tapping-up? Now Manchester City are also interested.

(Image: Stuart MacFarlane) (Image: REUTERS)

But the difference with Liverpool is the extent of the “tapping-up” and the fact that it looks obvious that they have spoken to van Dijk without Southampton’s permission. Why? Because of the suggestion that he wants to join Liverpool. That suggestion can only be right if contact has been made.

Furthermore, the hierarchy at Liverpool are unhappy, apologetic and those involved in the whole process are now under pressure following the public outcry. It’s embarrassed Liverpool and they have apologised.

However, don’t be fooled into believing it’s unusual. So, here’s how it works with the help of various football “middle men” who would not want to be named.

When does it start?

(Image: Liverpool FC/Getty Images)

Simple answer: with kids. It’s so blatant that one agent was caught parked outside a Premier League training ground after a youth game, his boot was open and in the back were pairs of boots ready to dish out to kids to reel them in.

“At 14 to 18, it’s all about boots. ‘Can you get me boots? Can you get me a boot deal?’ Kids will message agents all the time on social media asking for boots and promising to sign if they get the latest pair of Hyper Venoms.”

From there, the agent signs the player - and then can take him to another club. Tapping up starts young. Welcome to the real world.

Who does the tapping-up?

(Image: Getty)

One very high profile player has a habit of messaging the best young kids on Twitter and Instagram asking them to sign up. He has got ambitions of becoming an agent once he retires.

There is one outstanding young talent, outside of the much lauded academy system, who has been besieged. It’s been reported to the FA. Now finally some action has been taken.

“If you’re a parent, would you really want some guy you’ve never met, messaging your 14-year-old to get them to sign up? Of course you wouldn’t. First, it’s against the rules. And next it really is creepy.”

Big time “tapping-up.”

(Image: Getty Images)

Basically, it starts with a call to the player direct or his agent. Clubs will more often than not go to the agent and set up a meeting. If an agent - who does not represent the player - hears a club wants to get a deal done then he’ll go direct to the player.

Generally, an agent works as the middle man. Club shows interest, player is up for it, can the deal get done. That’s when the ball starts rolling.

“One very big name manager regularly invites players round to his house. In fact, that’s his modus operandi. Get them round, talk to them, charm them and win them over.

“They will talk numbers, specifics. £200,000-a-week. Whatever it might be. More often than not, the agent will be there as well. And the player’s club won’t have a clue what’s going on.

“Then the clever managers will then keep the ball rolling - texts, calls and messages.

“One huge manager at a big club wants an England international. He’s been texting him for weeks. The player’s head has been turned. Four clubs are in for him. But he only wants to go to one place. And his existing club know it.”

The best at “tapping-up”

“Players will go to hotels, the manager’s home, somewhere secret. They're rarely caught. One manager is very prolific. Even with 15 and 16 year olds. Suddenly, they’ll be getting texts from a Premier League manager telling them to come and join. It’s very persuasive.

“Another one is terrific. The player has seen four clubs, either a manager or sporting director. He went to see one manager - and he just blew him away. The warmth, telling him he’ll play, telling him how good he is, he’s his main man.

“Some of these managers are absolutely superb.”

International get-togethers

(Image: AFP/Getty)

The gossip in football circles is that Kyle Walker first got twitchy when the inevitable dressing room banter got onto wages.

Tottenham’s right back, England’s best right back and playing in the form of his life, had just signed a new deal for £55,000-a-week at White Hart Lane.

And suddenly, his England team mates were bragging about how much they earned.

“The dressing room banter is brutal. Absolutely brutal. Then suddenly word goes round that a player is unhappy, doesn’t earn enough, word gets back to another club and the wheels are in motion. It’s not really tapping up. But it’s often how it all begins.”

Getting caught

(Image: PA)

The word gets round. That’s the problem. Generally it’s kept quiet but careless whispers and talk in the dressing room quickly lets the cat out of the bag.

One agent tells another, another club hears and then all of a sudden Southampton know that Liverpool have “tapped up” van Dijk.

There have been high profile cases. Ashley Cole to Chelsea, Chelsea got fined and a three points deduction suspended. Even Liverpool apologised and made a donation to charity after signing Robbie Keane from Tottenham.

But the fact is that every club does it.

“Van Dijk has raised eyebrows but it happens so often. Maybe not to this extent. The trick is don’t get caught. And just think about - there’s gossip, innuendo and suggestion. But rarely enough to make a club apologise. This is a remarkable story. It’s really caused shockwaves. But will it stop ‘tapping up?’ Of course not.”

Agents

So many times it is the agent getting busy, pushing a player, getting a call to see if his player is available.

That’s how generally it begins. And it usually ends with a big-money move.