Liverpool will target Virgil Van Dijk in future despite Southampton’s determination not to sell their wantaway skipper.

That’s according to respected Merseyside football reporter Paul Joyce, who says Saints knew the Reds were prepared to pay £70m for the centre-back this summer.

Liverpool were forced to abandon plans to get Van Dijk, 26, on-board when they faced tapping up accusations in June.

That’s not put them off long-term though and Joyce says Jurgen Klopp will try to sign the former Celtic ace again.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail claim Barcelona have admitted defeat in their pursuit of Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.

The newspaper reckon the La Liga giants were pinning their hopes on Klopp snaring Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

However, that deal failed to materialise and that has impacted Barcelona’s transfer plans.

Because Liverpool have no replacement, they’re unlikely to let Coutinho go and that’s meant Andre Gomes has had to stay at the Nou Camp.

Finally, France international Mamadou Sakho has sealed a long-awaited return to Crystal Palace.

The 26-year-old was surplus to requirements at Anfield having fallen out with Klopp last summer.

And yesterday afternoon Liverpool and Palace agreed a fee of about £26m for him.

In the early hours of this morning both clubs announced a switch had been finalised.