Liverpool set to win race for £60m Virgil van Dijk as Southampton defender chooses Jurgen Klopp over move to Chelsea and Manchester City

• Virgil van Dijk could be set for a summer move from Southampton to Liverpool 
• Manchester City and Chelsea are also keen but the Reds lead the race 
• Van Dijk is particularly keen on working with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp 
• Paris Saint-Germain have denied making a deal for Real Madrid's Pepe

Virgil van Dijk has indicated he wants to join Liverpool in the first move that will see him become one of biggest signings this summer.

The Holland international's future has been the subject of intense speculation, with Chelsea and Manchester City having been angling to sign him since late last year, as well as Arsenal, who want to bolster their defence.

Southampton have taken the stance that Van Dijk is not for sale but it is understood that he will leave the South Coast during this transfer window and it is believed he wants to move to Merseyside for the opportunity to work with Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are refusing to comment on the speculation and this deal is not even at the stage where an official bid has been lodged with Southampton, who value Van Dijk at more than £50million. They bought him from Celtic two years ago for £15m.

But Van Dijk is ambitious and is keen to play in the Champions League, an opportunity that Liverpool can present him. That is why their last-day success against Middlesbrough, which secured a top-four spot, was so crucial to their hopes of standing a chance of capturing the 25-year-old.

Liverpool will need to obliterate their current transfer record of £35m to stand any chance of completing the deal - it may take a figure closer to £60m, which would be a record for a central defender - but owners Fenway Sports Group are prepared to finance the deal for a player who is Klopp's No 1 target.