According to both the Times of London and ESPN FC, Liverpool Football club will most likely not be punished for their pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool issued a statement of apology to the south coast club earlier this month, maintaining that they have now ended their interest in pursuing the central defender.
Liverpool, who have bought quite a few Saints players in recent transfer windows, were facing allegations of “tapping up,” but it appears now that this situation will not escalate any further. It seems that LFC’s public mea culpa was enough to diffuse this dispute between Premier League clubs.
The Times writes that: “Southampton made an official complaint to the Premier League this month after being angered by widespread reports that the Dutchman wanted to move to Anfield to work with Jürgen Klopp. After a preliminary investigation, however, the League has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to start disciplinary proceedings.”
The Dutch international was reportedly flown up to Blackpool (very close to Liverpool) in order to meet with Klopp, who was supposedly messaging Van Dijk regularly while the Reds were targeting him. Club legend Steven Gerrard also said publicly that his club should go out and acquire him (adding that getting another Saints player could go over like a led balloon)
ESPN FC reports that Van Dijk told Liverpool: “they were his preferred destination in the summer ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City.”
This was of course before his current club lodged a complaint with the league against Anfield. Obviously, no Virgil van Dijk deal will be struck here, but it’s still been a very eventful summer transfer window for Liverpool.
Liverpool FC broke their all time transfer fee record to sign AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah, and they have consistently been linked with rumors surrounding Kylian Mbappe.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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