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Arsenal plot bid for £60m Liverpool & Chelsea target as Wenger eyes coup

By on July 9, 2017

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are eyeing a bid to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk despite facing strong competition from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

van Dijk has developed in to one of the best central defenders in the Premier League since joining Southampton from Celtic in 2015 and he’s attracted plenty of interest this summer.

The Dutch international looked set for a switch to Liverpool earlier in the summer but the Merseysiders were forced to issue a public apology after being accused of ‘tapping-up’ by the Saints.

The South coast club insist they won’t sell van Dijk this summer but the Express reported at the end of last month that Chelsea were lining-up a £60m bid while the defender is understood to still be keen on moving to Anfield.

However, we could be about to throw our hat in to the ring as the Daily Mail claim that Arsenal are considering launching a bid of our own after Arsene Wenger made van Dijk a prime transfer target.

The boss has already snapped up striker Alexandre Lacazette and left-back Sead Kolasinac while there is mounting speculation suggesting we’re determined to land Monaco attacker Thomas Lemar.

But it seems Wenger is also keen to strengthen his defensive options with van Dijk on his radar and the 25-year-old would undoubtedly be a sensational signing if we could pull it off.

We do already have a number of centre-backs on the books but Gabriel is nursing a long-term injury, Laurent Koscielny has chronic Achilles issues, Per Mertesacker is going to retire next summer while Calum Chambers could seal a permanent move this summer.

Therefore, if we’re going to stick with the three-man defence next season, then Wenger may decide he needs another top class option at the back and I’d love to see van Dijk come to the Emirates.

READ: Arsenal to submit £50m attacker bid

However, it’s not going to be easy as we’ll face stiff competition if Southampton do agree to cash-in so it would be something of a coup if we were able to win the race for his signature.