Virgil van Dijk arrives at Anfield to watch Liverpool face Leicester after £75million move
Dutch defender in the crowd to watch his new club with transfer from Southampton set to go through when transfer window opens on New Year's Day
VIRGIL VAN DIJK has arrived at Anfield for the first time since agreeing his £75million move to Liverpool.
Van Dijk has to wait until New Year's Day before his huge transfer from Southampton goes through as soon as the transfer window opens.
But the Dutch defender was all smiles as he breezed into Anfield to take in the action as his new side took on Leicester in the Premier League today.
Once the move goes through on Monday it will finally bring to end a transfer saga that has dragged on for the past eight months.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp targeted the Saints star at the end of last season as he desperately tried to strengthen a defence that leaked too many goals.
It was clear that the former Celtic star had his mind set on a move to Merseyside, and Klopp was confident he had got his man.
But stories of Klopp meeting the 26-year-old without the permission of Southampton led to the South Coast club reporting Liverpool for an alleged illegal approach.
Fearful of getting into trouble with authorities, the Anfield board took the decision to apologise to Saints and publicly end their interest in signing the centre-back.
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That left Reds boss Klopp frustrated, having prioritised the player as the man he thought would help turn the club into potential title contenders.
The defender finally returned to Saints having initially not joined up with the first team squad in pre-season training as he attempted to force through a move away from the club.
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But the chance to join a top six club proved difficult for the Dutchman to ignore, with Manchester City and Chelsea also showing an interest.
At one stage it looks as though Stamford Bridge would be his eventual destination, but interest from Antonio Conte cooled at the price Saints were asking.
But once the season began it was clear Liverpool had not resolved the issues in their defence which continued to cost them vital points in the Premier League race.
It meant they had no option but to revive their interest in Van Dijk, and Saints were able to drive a hard bargain before they agreed to sell.