Liverpool Manager Jürgen Klopp "shrugged off the magnitude of Virgil van Dijk's world-record price tag after finally securing his prized defensive target," according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Van Dijk will "complete his move to Anfield" on Jan. 1, ending a "prolonged chase" for the £75M ($100.9M) defender. The fee has taken Liverpool's spending to "another level," eclipsing the existing transfer record of £48M ($64.6M) for Naby Keita -- who will move to Anfield this summer. Klopp said, "I can imagine people will think, 'Wow, what a number it is.' But for me it is not really interesting. We do not make the price, the market makes the price and the first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon is the price" (
TELEGRAPH, 12/28). In London, Jeremy Wilson reported the fee for Van Dijk "shatters Liverpool's previous club record transfer and is also easily the biggest in football history for a defender." The two clubs were in "secret negotiations over Christmas following the acrimonious breakdown of a potential deal last summer" and Van Dijk completed a medical last Friday, agreeing to personal terms on a contract worth £180,000 ($242,121) a week. With Liverpool unable to register Van Dijk in time for the Premier League match against Burnley on Monday, his debut "could be the Merseyside derby against Everton in the FA Cup third round." Man City and Chelsea were both "extremely interested" in Van Dijk and "made inquiries at different stages of the past six months" but the 26-year-old’s "preference was always Liverpool." Van Dijk said, "Delighted and honored to have agreed to become a Liverpool player." Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher "hailed" the signing, saying that Van Dijk is "better in the air than me, quicker than me and more composed" (
GUARDIAN, 12/27).
