Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp May Still Sign £60 Million Player He Had Decided Against

When Liverpool Football Club released a statement on June 7, apologizing to Southampton and ending its interest in Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, there was only one option.

"We respect Southampton's position and can confirm we have ended any interest in the player," the statement from the club read. Then it was up to Van Dijk if the move were to ever happen.

Six weeks on from the apology, the 26-year-old made his move. Southampton's new manager Mauricio Pellegrino confirmed that Van Dijk was training alone after informing him that he wanted to leave the club this summer.

Southampton still insists it is not willing to sell the defender, and Liverpool has not registered any official interest in him since June 7. But there is still a strong belief that he will end up in Jurgen Klopp's line up next season.

Related: Is This How Jurgen Klopp's New-Look Liverpool Team Will Line Up Next Season?

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol wrote on Twitter: "Source close to Virgil Van Dijk expects him to be Liverpool player by end of [transfer] window. No suggestion LFC have done anything since apology."

Antonio Conte and Chelsea are still reportedly interested in signing Van Dijk, who is valued at around £60 million (about $78 million), which would make him the most expensive defender in the world.

Liverpool is currently on its preseason tour in Hong Kong, and will be moving onto Klopp's native Germany before returning for the start of the Premier League season. The club has only made one signing so far this summer, bringing former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah to Anfield from Roma for £34 million.

Related: Jose Mourinho's Rivalry With Jurgen Klopp Ready to Ignite Ahead of News Season

As well as Dijk, Klopp is said to be determined to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, but the German Bundesliga club has repeatedly rejected offers that have reached £66 million.

The transfer window still has six weeks to run, closing on August 31.