Liverpool target confirms where he’ll be playing next season. Fans will be surprised by this move

Anfield club Liverpool might miss out on another summer signing as champions Chelsea prepare a £50m bid for Southampton star Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman has submitted a transfer request at the club, but for some negotiating tactics from the Reds, the defender would likely have already left the St Mary’s Stadium for the Merseyside club this summer.

Also, Manchester City have kept their eye on the 26-year-old’s future, although the Etihad club are yet to table a concrete bid for the defender, as per the Mirror.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, along with Club technical director Michael Emenalo, is a big fan of the Dutch man following Chelsea’s 3-2 loss to Premier League club Burnley on the opening day of the new League season, any possible move to bring Van Dijk to the Bridge will likely speed up.

Having already signed German Antonio Rüdiger for £31m, as well as promoting Andreas Christensen into the senior team after two seasons on loan in the Bundesliga, the Chelsea boss clearly wants to improve his team’s defensive capabilities.

Although the Blues conceded just 33 goals last campaign, Antonio Conte’s emphasis on defence has been seen throughout his career as a manager.

Last campaign saw the likes of Nigerian Victor Moses and Spanish Marcos Alonso, two players who have formerly failed to establish themselves in the English Premier League, thrive in Antonio Conte’s new system