Report: Manchester City Could Swoop for Van Dijk After Stones Setback
Manchester City are set to battle Liverpool for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk in January following an injury layoff to John Stones, according to the Daily Mirror.
The in-form Stones was forced off with a hamstring problem in Saturday's 2-0 win at Leicester, meaning Pep Guardiola has only the injury-prone Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala as his other central defensive options for the busy Christmas period.
City have now, reportedly, sighted Van Dijk, who looked set to join Liverpool in the summer, as another option.
Southampton rate the Dutch defender at around £60m and the Reds are thought to be back in the running for his signature after the Saints revealed he may be up for sale in January.
Liverpool were accused of 'tapping up' Van Dijk and the Dutchman's proposed move to Anfield (at least publicly) collapsed as a result.
Van Dijk, who look set to be at the center of yet another saga come January, played the full 90 minutes on Saturday at Anfield as his prospective future employers were too much for his current ones, as Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners thanks to an inspired Mohamed Salah.
