Chelsea and Man City overtake Liverpool in race for Virgil van Dijk, Sergi Roberto mulls over Premier League move

Sport360 staff 16:51 15/08/2017
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  • Virgil van Dijk

    Another day in football, another wave of transfer rumours to keep up on. Take a look at the most recent names and gossip being floated around in the media.

    Will any of the following deals happen?

    Let us know your thoughts by getting in touch via Twitter and Facebook.

    SERGE AURIER

    PSG full-back Serge Aurier has reportedly agreed terms with Tottenham, according to L’Equipe. The Ivorian has repeatedly been linked with a move away from PSG this summer, with Manchester United also said to have agreed terms with the defender earlier in the transfer window.

    Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be interested in the right-back.

    RATING: 5/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: The key to this deal will be speed. If Aurier has indeed agreed terms with Spurs, then all that’s left is to finalise a transfer fee. However, any of the other interested clubs could easily gazump Spurs, both with a better contract for Aurier and with a better offer to PSG. Spurs need to move quickly to seal the deal before that happens.

    SERGI ROBERTO

    The Barcelona midfielder is said to be strongly considering a move away after the club signed Paulinho, which Sergi Roberto is rumouredly interpreting as a lack of faith in him. Sport is claiming that Roberto will make a decision this week, with AC Milan, Chelsea, and Manchester United all said to be interested and ready to pay the €40million release clause. Roberto reportedly prefers a move to the Premier League.

    RATING: 5/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: Roberto has been linked with a move away all summer, and the signing of Paulinho does make it seem as if the Barcelona youth product’s first-team appearances will be limited this season. At this point Chelsea seem the likelier destination compared to Manchester United, given that United seemed to be stocked in midfield, a position where the defending Premier League champions are light.

    VIRGIL VAN DIJK

    Yahoo Sports claims Manchester City and Chelsea have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, who will cost £70million, a world-record fee for a defender. The Saints have said their defender is not for sale, but they could be tempted to cash in if a bid of that size is made.

    RATING: 6/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: Liverpool were always going to face the problem of being priced out of a move, especially with competitors like Manchester City and Chelsea. They had soured their relationship with Southampton over their pursuit of Van Dijk earlier in the summer in any case, so doing business with a club they have repeatedly raided for top talent over the years was always going to be dicey. Going up against the financial might of two of the Premier League’s biggest spenders may just prove to be a step too far.

    For Southampton, while they have insisted Van Dijk is not for sale, would they really turn down a £70million bid? It’s highly unlikely that they could resist that kind of money.

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