Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has already given green light for Liverpool to hijack second Manchester United transfer target

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has previously praised Manchester United transfer target Jurrien Timber who has also been linked with a move to Anfield.

Erik ten Hag’s main target for the summer may be an elite striker, but the Dutchman has other irons in the fire.

Much-loved Ajax defender Jurrien Timber was looking to follow his former boss to Manchester United last year before ultimately deciding against a move to the Premier League. However, he is expected to move this summer after announcing terms of a deal with the Dutch giants.

Unsurprisingly, this has attracted interest from several elite clubs. And while Ten Hag is still harboring hopes of securing a late deal for his compatriot, speculation is rife that Liverpool could try to hijack any move after Timber’s girlfriend was spotted at looking for a flat in Merseyside earlier this month. Man Utd told Jurrien Timber to ask for price after decision leaves Erik ten Hag ‘bewildered’

While it remains to be seen whether Jurgen Klopp is actually in the market for another defender, with a midfield overhaul his most pressing summer priority, Liverpool giant Virgil van Dijk has already given Timber an enthusiastic endorsement.

The Reds talisman is well aware of Timber’s qualities after playing alongside him for the Dutch national team – and in September he was adamant that his compatriot was already a better player than he was when he was younger.

“I was nowhere near him now (at the same age),” Van Dijk explained previously. “I have nothing but praise for him. He is a great player and a true professional. He has so much potential. Hopefully it can develop further. Then everything will be fine, I think.”

If Liverpool decide to make a bid for Timber this summer, the Reds could scupper another Manchester United transfer plan after securing them with Cody Gakpo.

The former PSV Eindhoven star was believed to be one of Ten Hag’s top January transfer targets before the Reds swooped in to complete a deal over the Christmas period.

Despite reports claiming that Van Dijk was influential in persuading Gakpo to pick Liverpool ahead of Manchester United, the Reds defender insisted that while he did talk with the versatile forward about a move, his role was exaggerated.

Speaking back in January, Van Dijk said: “No that was over exaggerated [talk of him convincing Gakpo]. I spoke to him, I can only say good things because I’m here, enjoying my time. We’ve been very successful but the manager said it as well, if it was me it was an easy decision to make, I didn’t need convincing.

“If there was any questions, I answered them honestly. I’m glad he’s here and [lets] get started started as quickly as possible.”

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits “surprising” Mohamed Salah treatment fuels touchline anger

Jurgen Klopp faces his second ban of the season in an incident which began with a foul on Mohamed Salah which was ignored by officials.

Salah is very rarely fouled compared to his Premier League contemporaries, despite his ubiquity on the right flank and his tendency to get the better of players.

That’s according to the stats, with the Egyptian having been penalized just 31 times this season in the top flight – less than half of the other seven players.

Overall, 55 players have been fouled more times than Salah this season, while 108 have been fouled more frequently every 90 minutes.

Since joining Liverpool in 2017, the No.11 has won 155 free-kicks, significantly less than Jack Grealish in his last three Premier League seasons (294). In reality, Salah is fouled much more frequently, such as on Sunday when he was stubbornly held up by Tottenham defender Ben Davies. Despite being right in front of the linesman, the foul went the other way.

“These statistics are amazing. I know them too, they are really amazing” Klopp said on Tuesday.

“A man who always has the ball at his feet, who is a setter, who scores an insane amount of goals over the years and that’s it.

“I don’t know how Mo handles these things. Absolutely exceptional.”

The incident against Tottenham was one of countless similar ones, but was notable for being followed soon after by Richarlison’s equalizer to make it 3–3.

Klopp’s reaction after Diogo Jota won the game 99 seconds later has left him in trouble, with a fierce celebration in the face of fourth official John Brooks earning him a yellow card and his post-match comments leading to a possible suspension.

It comes after a similar outcry following Bernardo Silva’s rugby tackle on Salah in October’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, with a red card that day earning Klopp a one-game touchline suspension.

“For me at that moment it’s not ‘again, Mo!'” he said of his actions on Sunday. “It’s just obvious. “I think the situation with Bernardo Silva was a clear foul on Mo and that situation was clearly not a foul [against Mo].

“Especially considering Bernardo Silva and now this challenge, it should be the same punishment.

“I don’t understand. I don’t think I’m right or wrong [to react this way] right now.

“It’s so obvious it’s wrong or right for me right now and if nothing happens after that then it’s over. “But we concede a goal 35 seconds after that incident.”

Klopp is under investigation by the FA for comments about referee Paul Tierney, who booked the Liverpool manager and told him he deserved a dismissal, according to Klopp.

“I don’t want an apology for my reaction or whatever, it just explains it,” the German continued.

“It’s like: there’s a foul, there’s a free kick, there’s the goal.

“We scored a goal almost immediately after that. So yes, that was the emotion I was in. “I’m in a completely different mood now, but this situation is really difficult to handle.

“You [in the media] had similar conversations with other managers – which is not to excuse the behavior or anything – but you never had the real situation you were in.

“You write about it, but you’ve never been able to really understand it.

“I can’t describe it because it happens more or less easily, but the emotions are quite strong.

“If all the managers were at home like they were on the sidelines, it would be a crazy life. “Obviously we’re not, because that’s an extreme situation and that led to that at the time.

“Obviously it’s still the wrong reaction, but that’s about it.”