REVEALED: How Virgil van Dijk received 'secret messages' and 'held talks' with Jurgen Klopp before botched Liverpool transfer

Virgil van Dijk took part in detailed talks with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp over where he would fit into his team, as the level of unsanctioned contact between the Southampton defender and the Anfield is now uncovered exclusively by Yahoo Sport UK.

Southampton have reported Liverpool to the Premier League for illegally trying to entice van Dijk to Anfield, with the south coast club infuriated by the actions of the player’s agent and the clubs involved.

We have been told that Van Dijk:

• Staged one-on-one talks with Liverpool and Klopp

• Received video messages detailing how he would be used in the Reds team

• Already finalised personal terms with Liverpool

• Has now ‘kicked up a fuss’ in a bid to be sold by Southampton, even though he still has five years left on his current contact with the club.

We also understand that Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have been in talks over a deal to sign van Dijk for several months, with sources close to Southampton telling Yahoo that the agent at the centre of the deal is eager to force through a move to Anfield as that will secure him the biggest personal pay-off.

Chelsea and City also remain keen to sign van Dijk, but the Saints are determined to hang on to their Dutch centre-back until what is described as ‘silly money’ is put on the table.

“The club had to take a stand this week as we have been aware of what has been going on for months and it has gone too far,” the source told us.

“Southampton have told the player that we don’t want to sell him this summer, but he thought he could kick up a big enough fuss that he would be sold for £50m.

“That is never happening and by holding talks with the player, sending him video clips of how he will fit into their team and doing this all without the permission of Southampton, there is no way he will be sold to Liverpool at this stage.

“Of course, every player has a price and if £100m or something close is put on the table, then it will be considered, but Southampton do not need to sell van Dijk this summer.”

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Van Dijk has yet to make any public comment on what has become one of the most embarrassing transfer stories of recent years, with the 25-year-old defender now in an uncomfortable position less than a month before he is due to return to first team training with Southampton.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Sport UK understands that Southampton WILL dispense of the services of manager Claude Puel this summer.

Sources tell us that the search for the Frenchman’s successor are already ‘at an advanced stage’, with former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel among the leading contenders.