Manchester City have ended their interest in signing Virgil van Dijk this summer after Southampton valued their defender at £70million.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City side were one of three clubs thought to be battling for the signature of the Dutch defender, but have now been priced out of a deal by his current club.
Reports last week suggested that Van Dijk was on the brink of completing a move to Liverpool, and was very keen to link up with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. However, this prompted Southampton to become disappointed at such reports, leading them to report Liverpool to the Premier League on the grounds of making an illegal approach for their player.
Southampton are believed to be reluctant to sell one of their most prized assets, and have now slapped a £70million price tag on his head.
This valuation has left Manchester City unwilling to pay such an exorbitant sum and therefore pulling out of any potential deal for the 25-year-old.
Accordng to the Sun, Manchester City chiefs were only willing to pay £50million for the defender, who lived to St Marys in 2015 from Celtic.
Chelsea are potentially the only suitor left for van Dijk, but whether they are willing to pay £70m is yet to be seen. Antonio Conte is thought to be interested in Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus, a player he tried to sign last summer.
