Liverpool rocked as Van Dijk green-lights sensational move away

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Liverpool rocked as Van Dijk green-lights sensational move away

Liverpool are facing a centre-back shakeup over the summer.

The outgoing Premier League champions are still coming to terms with the loss of Ibrahima Konate. Konate, 27, will be leaving on a free transfer having failed to agree a new deal and Real Madrid is expected to be his next destination.

New head coach Andoni Iraola will be expected to integrate big-money new signing Jeremy Jacquet into the backline - while Giovanni Leoni’s return from injury will also have to be factored in.

Liverpool could also lose Joe Gomez with the England international potentially available for sale just one year before his contract expires.

In this context one would imagine keeping Virgil van Dijk on board at all costs would be the priority. The defender - about to turn 35 - is also under contract until 2027 having inked a two-year £400k per week renewal last season.

Galatasaray locked in Van Dijk talks​

But there are murmurings of a departure growing for the long-serving captain - with Galatasaray reportedly locked in talks with the Dutchman.

The Turkish giants would like to take on Van Dijk - without paying a transfer fee. That kind of deal would surely be out of the question - unless Richard Hughes is in a rush to get the all-time great defender off the wage bill.

“Efforts to sign Van Dijk, a player highly admired by head coach Okan Buruk, have been accelerated,” a report in Fotomac reads.

“The Galatasaray management aims to complete the transfer of the famous star on a free transfer.

“The experienced central defender, who is with the Dutch national team at the World Cup, has given his agent authorization to negotiate.

“It was reported that Galatasaray has also intensified its contacts for the transfer of the 34-year-old star and expects a positive outcome soon.

“The Dutch central defender, reportedly impressed by the atmosphere at Rams Park and the support from the fans, is said to be open to joining the yellow-red team.”

Wesley Sneijder's key role in talks​

The deal is set to be orchestrated by Wesley Sneijder - a Galatasaray favourite and compatriot of Van Dijk’s.

“Sneijder, who provided information to the Dutch defender and expressed his desire for his compatriot to join Galatasaray, is said to play an active role in the transfer,” the report reads.

Let’s hope nothing happens until Van Dijk is back from the FIFA World Cup where he is leading his nation. Having lost Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson already on free transfers along with Konate surely this would be one deal too far.

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