Steven Gerrard backs Liverpool to sign Virgil van Dijk
Southampton announced the signing of Hoedt from Serie A side Lazio this evening on a five-year deal.
Van Dijk has made it public he wants to leave Southampton in this window and handed in a transfer request two weeks ago.
Liverpool are his preferred destination, but Saints maintain he will not be sold before the window shuts on August 31.
However, are Southampton preferring for his departure by signing fellow centre-back Hoedt?
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Could Wesley Hoedt's move to Southampton affect Virgil van Dijk's future?
Could Liverpool end up with Virgil van Dijk? We await confirmation
Paul Gilmour on Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk
Reporter Paul Gilmour posed that question to viewers of Sky Sports News' transfer centre today before Saints announced the deal.
“Could Liverpool end up with Virgil van Dijk?” he said.
“We await confirmation centre-back Wesley Hoedt will be joining Southampton.
“That’s what the Lazio sporting director said on Sunday.
SKY SPORTS
Liverpool Transfer News: Virgil van Dijk is keen to quit Southampton this summer
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“Will that have a direct impact on Van Dijk? He trained with Southampton’s Under-18s yesterday, he wants to leave the club.
“He handed in a transfer request and strongly criticised the club’s management.
“Southampton have said consistently again he is not for sale in this window.”
Van Dijk has made 55 appearances in the Premier League since arriving from Celtic in 2015.
He has not played for Southampton since January after suffering a serious ankle injury which ruled him out of the second half of last season.
