Everton manager Ronald Koeman is desperate for a reunion with Virgil van Dijk and could pay £40million to beat Manchester United to his signature.
Koeman worked with the in-form centre-half when he was the Southampton gaffer, and he could get the financial backing from the Toffees hierarchy to bring him to Goodison Park in the January transfer window.
United have also been liked the Van Dijk after putting in some impressive displays in the Premier League, but Everton are prioritising a move for a replacement for John Stones, who joined Manchester City in the summer.
Southampton want huge money for their key-man, but the Daily Mirror say that will not put Everton off pursuing the defender this winter.
The Toffees were continuously linked with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the last transfer window, despite the Senegal international’s £60m price-tag.
If the Merseyside club pay Saints’ asking price for star Van Dijk, it would smash the record of the biggest transfer purchase in their history, overtaking the £28m paid for striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea back in 2014.
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)
