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Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool to do whatever it takes to get Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in what could be a club record £50million transfer.
The Dutchman is manager Jurgen Klopp’s number one target this summer with Manchester City and Chelsea also interested.
Former captain and club legend Gerrard is a big fan Van Dijk's and believes he would be a shrewd addition.
How could Liverpool line up next season?Show all 12 1 /12How could Liverpool line up next season? How could Liverpool line up next season? How will Liverpool line up next season? Will a revitalised Reds be able to go one step further in the Champions League next season?
How could Liverpool line up next season? GK: Alisson The less said about poor Loris Karius the better. Liverpool need a new 'keeper and Roma's Alisson is top of their list.
How could Liverpool line up next season? DR: Trent Alexander-Arnold The teenager excelled last term and is only going to get better.
How could Liverpool line up next season? DC: Dejan Lovren May come at risk of losing his place but Liverpool are likely to prioritise other areas of the pitch first.
How could Liverpool line up next season? DC: Virgil van Dijk Such an important player for Liverpool and the bedrock of their new look side.
How could Liverpool line up next season? DL: Andy Robertson One of the success stories of the 2017/18 season. Will keep improving.
How could Liverpool line up next season? MF: Fabinho Liverpool's new signing will add some much needed steel in midfield.
How could Liverpool line up next season? MF: Naby Keita Liverpool supporters have been waiting so long to see this man in a Reds shirt. Unlikely to disappoint.
How could Liverpool line up next season? MF: Nabil Fekir Jurgen Klopp's top transfer target this summer. Although his price is likely to jump up and up if he has a good World Cup.
How could Liverpool line up next season? FW: Sadio Mane Ended the season strongly and a key player.
How could Liverpool line up next season? FW: Roberto Firmino An unsung hero last season. A key player for Liverpool on the quiet.
How could Liverpool line up next season? FW: Mohamed Salah Well they're not going to leave Salah out, are they?!
"I would love to see Van Dijk in a red shirt. I am a huge fan," he said. "I thought he was fantastic at Celtic and I thought we should have had a go for him back then.
"It will cost us a few more quid but I think he is a piece of the jigsaw that would be very welcome and very big for this team."
Liverpool remain conscious there is still work to be done on what would be a club-record deal.
The Reds hope the draw of the German boss will help them see off stiff competition to land him in what would represent a huge coup for both manager and club.
Formal negotiations between the clubs are yet to begin but the Saints are understood to be looking for in excess of £50million, a figure which would comfortably surpass the £35m the Reds paid for Andy Carroll in 2011.
Liverpool summer transfer targetsShow all 9 1 /9Liverpool summer transfer targets Liverpool summer transfer targets Naby Keita A difficult signing to pull off, but one that Liverpool are interested in making. Keita's dynamic performances in the centre of RB Leipzig's midfield have caught Klopp's eye, but also the attention of Bayern Munich, who are also monitoring the player.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Timo Werner Werner scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga last season as his goals fired RB Leipzig to second place and a first-ever Champions League qualification. The German club are keen to keep him but money talks and Liverpool are desperate for an out-and-out goalscorer.
Bongarts/Getty Images
Liverpool summer transfer targets Dusan Tadic The Southampton attacker is out of favour on the south coast and desperate for a way out of the club. Liverpool are interested in him to provide competition and back-up to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana with the added strain of European football.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Andrew Robertson Given Hull's relegation to the Championship, Robertson is one of the players in the shop window. Left-backs are at the forefront of Klopp's transfer activity and Robertson will come fairly cheap.
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Liverpool summer transfer targets Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Somewhat surprising reports have arisen over recent weeks that Chamberlain will be a Liverpool player next season. A disappointing season for Arsenal has left their squad in disarray, and it is thought that the 23 year-old midfielder is seeking a new challenge. The player’s versatility across midfield positions is an appealing to Klopp, who will need added squad depth. Arsenal will not be keen to sell to a rival, but if the rumours are to be believed, Chamberlain has his heart set on the Merseyside club and a £35 million transfer could well be on the cards.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Douglas Costa The 26 year old Brazilian winger has gained plaudits for his performances at the German champions, yet the player stated earlier in the season that he is ‘not that happy’, presumably at missing out to Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben regularly. He would cost upwards of £25 million and have plenty of suitors, meaning Liverpool are simply one of many clubs he could choose from, although he did recently ‘like’ a tweet from a Liverpool fan about the possibility of him joining the club. There is also a chance that Costa is happy in Munich but is seeking an improved deal, which would come as no real surprise.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Ryan Sessegnon Sessegnon is a long-term option at left-back for Liverpool with the 17-year-old lighting up the Championship with Fulham. With only Alberto Moreno, who is expected to leave, and James Milner available in that position, Klopp wants to bring in at least two. He faces competition from Manchester United and Tottenham though.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang The most speculative target on the list is Gabon forward Aubameyang, who became a household name under Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund. Constant questions over his future are expected to culminate in a move this summer, and while his former boss will no doubt be interested, European giants Real Madrid are circling and thought to be his preferred destination. While the versatile Roberto Firmino has had a good season deployed as Liverpool’s first choice striker and Divock Origi a promising talent, they still lack a world class centre forward like Aubameyang. Dortmund CEO Hanz-Joachim Watzke stated earlier this year that the striker, who has three years to run on his contract, would only leave ‘for an outrageous fee’.
Liverpool summer transfer targets Jonas Hector A player Klopp will know well, the 26 year-old is thought to be a serious option with the manager unconvinced by Alberto Moreno. James Milner has deputised brilliantly this season but an out-and-out left back is a priority for the summer. Hector has earned 27 caps for Germany since 2014 and is known for his excellent positional understanding and for putting in accurate crosses. It is thought he would cost in excess of £20 million, which could be well worth it for a good player approaching his prime years.
Klopp is expected to be busy this offseason with Chelsea’s Dominic Solanke already set to arrive at the end of his contract.
Hull's Andrew Robertson is another target while RB Leipzig duo Naby Keita and Timo Werner have long been on Klopp's radar.
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