REPORT CLAIMS VIRGIL VAN DIJK TRIED TO CONVINCE TOTTENHAM ‘MACHINE’ INTO SIGNING FOR LIVERPOOL
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk spoke to Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven about a move to Anfield over the summer.
During the summer, the Reds mostly concentrated on adding midfield players, and they signed Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Dominique Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister.
However, it appears that Liverpool looked at the center back position, considering a left-footed natural.
Liverpool missed out on Micky Van de Ven
Throughout the summer, there were many connections to Micky van de Ven.
It was because to the appointment of Jorg Schmadtke as Liverpool’s acting sporting director that Van van Ven ended up at Wolfsburg.
Even during the summer, The London Evening Standard brought attention to Tottenham’s concern that Liverpool might sabotage their efforts to capture Van van Ven.
Van van Ven preferred to transfer to Tottenham over Liverpool, according to Miguel Delaney of The Independent in October, who also reported that Liverpool was “very interested” in signing him.
The story goes that Tottenham were willing to throw him right into the team, while Liverpool were unable to guarantee regular first-team football. According to TEAMtalk, Virgil van Dijk, a defender for Liverpool, even spoke with Van de Ven to try and persuade him to join the Reds; the two had only recently become teammates in the Netherlands, but Van Dijk allegedly contacted Van de Ven to try and sell him on the move to Merseyside. Apparently, the charm offensive failed, as Tottenham secured a deal worth £34.5 million, rising to £43 million, which now appears to be an incredible deal.
Whilst Van de Ven is now injured, he has been hailed as a ‘machine’ by teammate James Maddison and has been one of the signings of the season.
Liverpool could now turn to Goncalo Inacio
According to a TEAMtalk report, Liverpool is still looking for a left-footed center back and is now considering Sporting ace Gonzalo Inacio.
Liverpool has reportedly been scouting the Portuguese defender on a regular basis for more than two years.
Liverpool has been keeping an eye on Inacio both on the club and international front as they prepare to make a move.
Even though Inacio would appear to be more expensive than Van de Ven, Sporting would need to offer him a £52 million release clause in order to lure him away.
Given that other teams are rumored to be interested in the 22-year-old, Liverpool must now decide whether to exercise that clause in January or wait until the summer.
TEAMtalk claims that Van de Ven was directly approached by Virgil van Dijk regarding a move to Anfield, which explains this.
During the summer, the Reds mostly concentrated on adding midfield players, and they signed Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Dominique Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister.
However, it appears that Liverpool looked at the center back position, considering a left-footed natural.
Liverpool missed out on Micky Van de Ven
Links to Micky van de Ven were prominent over the summer.
Liverpool appointed Jorg Schmadtke as their interim sporting director, and he was the man who brought Van de Ven to Wolfsburg.
The London Evening Standard even highlighted over the summer that Tottenham feared Liverpool would hijack their talks to sign Van de Ven.
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney claimed in October that Liverpool were ‘very interested’ in signing Van de Ven but he chose a move to Tottenham instead.
Liverpool, the story goes, couldn’t promise regular first-team football whereas Tottenham wee willing to throw him straight into the team.
Van de Ven was allegedly even spoken to by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in an attempt to get him to go with the Reds, according to TEAMtalk.
Though Van Dijk supposedly contacted Van de Ven to convince him to transfer to Merseyside, the two have only lately been teammates for the Netherlands.
Tottenham secured a deal worth £34.5 million, which then increased to £43 million, when their charm offensive failed. This transaction now appears to be a fantastic one.
Even though Van de Ven is now sidelined, James Maddison, a teammate, has called him a “machine” and mentioned him as one of the season’s acquisitions.
Liverpool could now turn to Goncalo Inacio
According to a TEAMtalk report, Liverpool is still looking for a left-footed center back and is now considering Sporting ace Gonzalo Inacio.
Liverpool has reportedly been scouting the Portuguese defender on a regular basis for more than two years.
Liverpool has been keeping an eye on Inacio both on the club and international front as they prepare to make a move.
Though it might seem that Inacio would cost more than Van de Ven, luring him away from Sporting would require a £52 million release clause.
Given that other teams are rumored to be interested in the 22-year-old, Liverpool must now decide whether to exercise that clause in January or wait until the summer.
