Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool plot second raid as Mauricio Pellegrino admits centre-back may leave in January
Jurgen Klopp's side were forced to make an embarrassing public apology over their failed pursuit last summer
LIVERPOOL are planning a winter raid for Virgil van Dijk as Jurgen Klopp aims to fix his defensive woes.
Southampton chief Mauricio Pellegrino admitted yesterday he is powerless to stop his star centre-back, 26, leaving in January.
And according to the Mirror, Reds chiefs have sanctioned a new bid after last summer's failed pursuit.
Klopp will get a close look at his target on Saturday as he welcomes the Saints to Anfield.
The German has recovered from his midweek health scare and will be in the dug-out for the 3pm kick-off.
Asked about Van Dijk's future ahead of the clash, Pellegrino said: “I don’t know. I can’t control the market.
“You never know, because when we talk about money everybody has got a price.
“The budget is to sign players and the biggest teams have got money to try to sign players.
“I can’t decide about that. This is a question for our owners.
“Everybody is focused on their area, to try to bring the best players possible for their club. It is something that happens every single transfer window.
“We have got a lot of good players and most of the teams want to sign them.”